oh man the ancient world had SO MUCH more long-distance trade than the West is prepared to to think about we forget that the Dark Ages were exactly that. Europe's end of the global trade networks shut down, & to this day we still think of that shut-down state as "normal."https://twitter.com/IOnceAteALeaf/status/1031209548147843072 …
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There's plenty of archaeological and textual evidence for long-distance links in the 5th–7thC, for example https://twitter.com/caitlinrgreen/status/844281770241675265 … >
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Even at the the westernmost end of Eurasia, there's plenty of Red Sea/Indian Ocean imports e.g. http://www.caitlingreen.org/2018/07/indo-pacific-beads-europe.html … &https://twitter.com/caitlinrgreen/status/1021472897800593411 …
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Furthermore, pepper from India continued to be available in NW Europe in the 7th/8th centuries e.g. Chlothar III granted annual rent of 30 pounds of pepper to Corbie monastery (N. France) in mid-7thC, renewed in 8thC, & Bede's personal possessions incl pepper when he died in 735.pic.twitter.com/O5hNdI1p86
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Indeed, one estimate puts pepper imports to 7th/8thC Merovingian Gaul at 3,000 lbs p.a. and document concerning Corbie in N. France (reconfirmed by Chilperic II in 716) also mentions an annual quantity of 2 pounds of cloves to this monastery alone, only grown in Indonesia...
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Looking into the 9th/10thC, there are literally hundreds of thousands of Central Asian (primarily) dirhams imported into eastern and northern Europe:https://twitter.com/caitlinrgreen/status/924196718719258624 …
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These same trade networks also brought some Indian silver coins into these areas and items such as the Helgo Buddha, as well as silks etc:https://twitter.com/caitlinrgreen/status/548953257046196224 …
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Anyway, these are just some examples :) Quite right to think of extent of trading networks in Antiquity, but we need not to underestimate early medieval and later ones too, which weren't just limited to a few high-status jewels etc :)
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I have never used this word on Twitter before, but I say it to you RE: refuting the "Dark Ages": slay.
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Completely, no. What were the dark ages if not a time when Europe contracted into hundreds of pocket kingdoms, greatly restricting flows of people, ideas and material? Pretty much all the things you cite are highly portable status objects of great value (jewelry, spices, etc.)
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Well, the Dark Ages didn't really exist, and the term is now widely avoided ;) Tbh, the arch evidence is, imho, pretty impressive and goes well beyond a handful portable objects, plus is backed up by the textual evidence for continued (or even intensified) links >
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Yup, I 100% appreciate that there was much more trade than folks typically think btwn the collapse of the western Roman Empire & the Renaissance. That is in fact a big part of my beef w how folks perceive history of food, e.g. believing food was "always" local until v recently.
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A gap due to Justinian plague perhaps (?) but integrated routes
We've been here. .....
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According to the Museum of the Hanseatic League in Bergen, the Hanseatic League was roaring along & finally petered out in the 14th century.
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