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 …
-
-
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
-
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...
-
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 …
-
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 …
-
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 :)
-
I have never used this word on Twitter before, but I say it to you RE: refuting the "Dark Ages": slay.
End of conversation
New conversation -
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.