Global trade routes

Definition

Global trade routes refer to the interconnected networks of maritime and overland pathways used for the transportation of goods across different regions and continents. These routes facilitated the exchange of commodities, ideas, and cultures between various societies around the world.

Related terms

Silk Road: An ancient network of trade routes that connected East Asia with Europe, facilitating the exchange of silk, spices, precious metals, and cultural ideas.

Colonialism: The policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country in order to exploit its resources for economic benefit.

Mercantilism: An economic theory prevalent during the Age of Exploration that advocated for a nation's wealth through maximizing exports and minimizing imports in order to accumulate precious metals.