ABSTRACT
The early medieval period was one of intense trade and travel over long distances, with connections created between peoples interested in products, foods, arts, and technologies available in other parts of the world. It introduces some medieval regional networks, over both land and water, and how these linked with others in transcontinental and intercontinental systems – from China’s Grand Canal to North Africa, Viking Iceland to Greenland, and up and down the Americas. The chapter discusses the maritime archeological record and some of the most abundant products that traveled along these many commercial routes. During the collapse of the Tang dynasty, China entered a period of political disunity that negatively affected long-distance commerce along the overland silk roads. In 960, new Chinese rulers gained imperial power as the Song dynasty and ushered in a time of expanded trade and an economic boom.
