Visualizing the Spread of Chess

Discussion of visual primary sources showing the spread of chess

13 Aug 2024 — 2 min read

Cultural exchange can be a tricky concept to teach. We often rely on secondary sources’ descriptions of the process. While reading about Muslims facilitating cultural exchange across Afroeurasia between 600 and 1400 may be exciting, it’s not the same as seeing different people come together to share and exchange ideas.

From page 41 of the AP World History Course and Exam Description

The Sources

Afroeurasian Exchange Networks and the Spread of Religions before 1450

Extensive trade networks crisscrossed Afroeurasia before 1500. These networks facilitated more than the movement of goods; cultural traditions and technologies also spread through the networks. We can easily see this through the spread of the four most popular universal religions. The Source