Introduction | Development | Urbanization | Architectural Innovations | conclusion | references
Trade played a
crucial role in the development of Bronze Age societies. The expansion of
long-distance trade networks facilitated the exchange of bronze, luxury goods,
and essential resources like tin and copper. Assyrian trade records from the
Middle Bronze Age (c. 2000–1650 BCE) provide valuable insights into these
exchanges. Merchants from Aššur established trade colonies across Anatolia,
particularly in Kaneš, which became a regional hub for commercial activities.
Archaeological evidence suggests that large cities
emerged at strategic trade intersections, reinforcing the idea that urban
centers flourished due to their access to transportation networks. The economic
size and political influence of cities like Kaneš were directly correlated with
their connectivity to natural and constructed roadways. Furthermore, Bronze Age
governance structures evolved to support commercial enterprises, with local
rulers overseeing trade routes, maintaining roads, and collecting tolls in
exchange for security.
Agricultural innovations also played a role in economic
expansion. The Bronze Age saw the introduction of wheat, barley, and millet into
Central and South Asia through long-distance trade and cultural exchanges.
Stevens et al. explored how these staple crops spread across the Middle Asian
corridor, contributing to increased agricultural productivity and population
growth . This movement of crops illustrates the interconnectedness of societies
across Eurasia and their reliance on trade networks for sustenance and economic
development.
Cretan influence extended beyond tools and trade,
reaching social structures as well. Cutler discusses how craft production,
particularly in textiles, shaped the economic strategies of different groups in
the southern Aegean. The transmission of weaving knowledge between Minoan and
non-Minoan communities illustrates the integration of economic and cultural
systems in the region .