Between 1250-1450, improved navigation and protection led to increased travel, trade, and cultural exchanges between distant empires and kingdoms. Key exchanges included the magnetic compass from China, sugarcane from Southeast Asia, and gunpowder from China, which impacted maritime trade, agriculture, and weapon technology respectively. Notable travelers during this period were Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta, whose accounts documented widespread Islamic influence and inspired further exploration. Global trade networks expanded as the Venetian-dominated Mediterranean trade linked to Indian Ocean monsoon-based commerce. Meanwhile, Chinese expeditions under Zheng He explored the Indian Ocean region until voyages were ended under the Ming Dynasty. Seeking new trade routes,

1. Growing Connections AP World History

11. Chinese Expeditions