In chapter 7, Strayer discusses the importance of trade between the countries and the culture of each country and how that played a part in what they produced. he starts the chapter off by explaining what and where the Silk Roads were. The Silk Road was a network of trade routes which connected the East and West, and was central to the economic, cultural, political, and religious interactions between these regions from the 2nd century BCE to the 18th century. The main focus of the trading goods were luxury goods like silk, furs, cotton, dates, and gold coins. With the amount of trade happening during this time, women had to start helping by making the products or even going out to go trade. China and other countries started producing silk and that was the main produced being traded. Along with products being traded, cultures were also being passed along. For example, Buddhism was moving all throughout countries and even new forms, like Mahayana, were evolving. There were also some bad things that were being passed around through the countries. Diseases were moving everywhere, from China to Rome to Byzantium. The Black Death swept through the Mongols causing many to die. Trade didn't just occur on land; it also was going on in the Indian Ocean. Countries would send men out to sea so that they could trade large products or products of large quantities. The major trade route of West Africa were the Sand Roads. Everything from gold to slaves were being traded. In all, luxury goods of the ancient world were in high demand for trade, there was a mass consumption in the modern world, and the western countries were dominating the modern economy.