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BEFORE YOU WATCH: Unit 2 Overview - Networks of Exchange

Use the “Three Close Reads” approach as you watch the video below.
Use the “Three Close Reads” approach as you watch the video below (next in the lineup!). If you want to learn more about this strategy, click here.

First read: preview and skimming for gist

Before you watch, you should skim the transcript first. The skim should be very quick and give you the gist (general idea) of what the video is about. You should be looking at the title, thumbnails, pictures, and first few seconds of the video for the gist.

Second read: key ideas and understanding content

Now that you’ve skimmed the video transcript and taken a quick peek at the video, you should preview the questions you will be answering. These questions will help you get a better understanding of the concepts and arguments that are presented in the video. Keep in mind that when you watch the video, it is a good idea to write down any vocab you read or hear that is unfamiliar to you.
By the end of the second close read, you should be able to answer the following questions:
  1. What are the caravanserai and why were they useful?
  2. Where did large regional networks exist in this era?
  3. How was trade conducted over the largest network in Afro-Eurasia and what goods were traded along this route?
  4. How are the themes of governance and economic systems linked when studying networks of exchange in this era?
  5. How did the creation of the Mongol Empire disrupt trade but also lead to the building new caravanserai?
  6. How did caravanserai affect many of the regions in which they were built?

Third read: evaluating and corroborating

Finally, here are some questions that will help you focus on why this video matters and how it connects to other content you’ve studied.
At the end of the third read, you should be able to respond to these questions:
  1. Many of the things you use today come to you from far away. If you need proof, just look at the tags on your clothes or the “made in __” labels on your pens or electronics. Using evidence from the video, what is one way that long-distance trade has changed since 1200 CE?
Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to watch! Remember to return to these questions once you’ve finished watching.

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