Int'l Commerce, Snorkeling Camels, and The Indian Ocean Trade: Crash Course World History #18

In which John Green teaches you the history of the Indian Ocean Trade. John weaves a tale of swashbuckling adventure, replete with trade in books, ivory, and timber. Along the way, John manages to cover advances in seafaring technology, just how the monsoons work, and there's even a disembowelment for you Fangoria fans.
Chapters:
Introduction 00:00
Indian Ocean Trade 0:58
Monsoon Winds 2:19
How did trading work along the Indian Ocean? 3:43
An Open Letter to Kota Rani 4:57
Benefits of seaborne trade 6:14
How Indian Ocean trade facilitated the spread of technology 7:06
Indian Ocean Trade and the spread of Islam 7:33
Geography, Politics, and Indian Ocean Trade 10:13
Crash Course is on Patreon! You can support us directly by signing up at / crashcourse
Want to find Crash Course elsewhere on the internet?
Facebook - / youtubecrashcourse
Twitter - / thecrashcourse
Instagram - / thecrashcourse
CC Kids: / crashcoursekids

[@crashcourse]

Open your globe and find out. -stan

[@jhonhalo]

CrashCourse Only 5 likes lol

[@jhonhalo]

But what's in my globe?

[@Linkopotamus]

Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I don't wannaaaa

[@sebasdle36]

Can confirm there was 90% of a serpent in my globe

[@ghost-gd2og]

i thought the globe was empty?

[@skyesolorio6354]

These are the only videos where you can go into the comment section and not lose all faith in humanity.

[@avo478]

+Skye Solorio :D

[@siegs2220]

+Skye Solorio Watch the Islam episode and the Crusades episode, you will be proved wrong. It's a warzone.

[@satilmoni3687]

+Tai Fropez lol true. I'm muslim, and looking at all that makes me wanna shut their mouths and just watch the video.

[@nicholascooper945]

+Satil Moni You must save humanity. Or at least the West, because they think muslims are all crazy.

[@chickenmonger123]

That isnt an issue if you had none in the first place.

[@mendelsonroy279]

When you said 'no hats' I immediately went to the other room and put on my awesome red cowboy hat, just for you john.

[@StephSA08]

Me in my history exam I’m writing on Monday: “ Africa and Asia hosted an incredible phenomenon facilitated through trade. The sexy sea lanes of South Asia enabled the development and rise of prom...” my lecturer: “ damn she’s good. Say no more, 100%”

[@arnoldschafernaker512]

China : I'm the only country after whom a sea is named. India: Hold my Ocean

[@muzanjackson8827]

yes

[@oglow100]

Thank you so much for this. I watch this purely out of enjoyment because you offer a history lesson in an easily digestible and entertaining way.

[@ayesha6206]

same

[@wristy94]

same here . from south east asia. this guy is way betterthan average asian history teacher . Love the Mongols being the exception !

[@dragonlord4452]

Advanced skepticism same

[@widgeniajean7208]

honsestly so true its not a snooze fest

[@mitchellb4551]

same even in '19

[@Iwokeupscreaming]

It is a shame that growing up, I was taught that only Europeans traded and all of the other races mentioned here were primitive slaves and servants. I love all races and we share a deep history that is yet to be fully exposed. Thank you for this video and the pride that came with it.

[@12bestskater12]

Angryjolly Either you must of had some shitty education growing up, or you're just strawmaning.

[@emilyyurk7231]

The Anti-social-Socialist I mean, at least speaking for Texas public school, if it wasn't in relation to the awesomeness of America, Texas, or white people, it wasn't worth teaching. It's an unfortunately narrow world view to force on youth and Angryjolly's description is sadly not far off base.

[@PsychicChris]

Emmiline Sorek nyc here. had a friend who went to school in nyc and he said he learned white people are bad everybody else good O___0. you find bias everywhere depending on the school you go to.

[@TheWallki]

Emmiline Sorek That is so sad, at least here in Venezuela, even with all the problems we have, my world history class was pretty good, for instance, we were taught of this indian ocean trade for example.

[@carsonbode6640]

+Emmiline Sorek Oklahoma is pretty similar. Our world history classes always went: Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, Charlemagne, Black Death, Renaissance, Colonialism, then a rushed overview of the early 20th century. Things like the Crusades and the Silk Road were discussed in passing, but there was no mention of Ashoka, Qin Shir Huang Di, or Suleiman until I got to college.

[@jamie7351]

I get the impression that these video's were made with the intent to help Uni student's cramm for a History test or something. I'm not studying anything History related, these video's are just entertaining my face off. Thank you!

[@eni7529]

Jamie Bryson pretty much lmaooo

[@andreaperez8689]

these videos also help high school students who are taking AP world history

[@albionaselimi3425]

Andrea Perez high schooler here with a final tomorrow 😭

[@MILLESSILLE]

you are 100% right. I'm halfway in my bachelor's degree in history, and these videos are gold.

[@jonathandonley3299]

Same. 44 years old and enjoying this with my morning coffee. So glad I stumbled into this.

[@MariaGeorgious]

These videos are the only reason why I'll pass my AP exam

[@rjesus85]

Same

[@jtlegionnaire6310]

Good luck!

[@chrisheckel3887]

Im still not gonna pass it

[@albinjosegeorge6480]

+Maria Georgious So did you ?

[@MariaGeorgious]

I got a 4 on it

[@raivolution]

more people need to watch this episode, because we need to break out our eurocentric historical mindset.

[@musicalenthusiast9343]

History shouldn't be Eurocentric, but Europe has shaped the world time and time again and is the cultural foundation on the past three centuries. It deserves the time it gets in historical lectures.

[@nylaanderson4372]

Logic is Key i think the they were trying to make is that Europe has gotten on enough attention, like maybe more than it deserved from history.

[@marielaveau6362]

@@musicalenthusiast9343 while it's true that Europe has shaped our western history, it hasn't shaped the world time and time again. Europe was not a major player in ancient civilization until the Romans and Greeks arrived. Before that the world was being shaped by Africa, and Asia. In particular the Middle eastern countries, the Indian sub-continent, China, Egypt, and East Africa. Europe gets most of the attention now because it created the western society we live in. However, without the civilizations that came before Rome and Greece there would be no western Civilization. So let's give credit to them as well, they deserve it. Europe and the west are standing on the shoulders of those who came before them.

[@samank8628]

Of course my dear, I feel sorry for your Eurocentric brainwashed mindset. Excluding Greek and the Romans, it’s only been a few hundred years in fact the later part of the 2nd millennium saw the rise of the western civilization and that too by bleeding the rest of us dry. Talk about western imperialism. History book are manipulated according to the needs of people like you.

[@cheekoandtheman]

I really like how this guy is not Eurocentric. I can't stand that Eurocentric historic outlook ! GO THE MONGOLS !

[@garrusn7702]

cheekoandtheman About half of the videos in this series are mostly or entirely focused on Europe and the west.

[@BassTechnologic]

Who else didn't realize John had Lisp?

[@willfallon8868]

Me

[@lilylohmann614]

William Fallon Same!

[@starwarschic123]

Aye!

[@WhiteDragonTile]

starwarschic123

[@Zineeta]

+BassTechnologic Never really head it, heard it complain about it all the time on vlogbrothers

[@SidneyIam]

"It's almost as if the merchants decide where the people with funny hats go rather than the other way around" Almost as if corporations control governments rather than the other way around hmm...

[@jred7]

SidneyIam or just a great argument for free[r] market economics.

[@SidneyIam]

Seemed like the opposite to me.

[@jred7]

How is that, when merchants are even indirectly determining how well societies do, based on who they want to pay taxes to?

[@SidneyIam]

I don't really understand what you're saying, I think that statement just proves that merchants have too much power.

[@jred7]

they weren't as regulated by governments. They weren't relying on military powers to "ensure" their security. Just a couple examples of why it was a freer market.

[@MrBananaCheeks]

That party horn solo caught me off guard, and I can't stop giggling.

[@MrFlorryworry]

"It's almost as if the merchants decide where the people with the funny hats go, rather than the other way around." Well.... This certainly makes you want to think for a minute...

[@brianmchaney7473]

Goes to show that socialism and communism are just bad ideas.

[@schpau9339]

Yay, I found a Florryworry comment from before he made eu4 videos! Little did he know he was the one with the funny hats.

[@erikthegodeatingpenguin2335]

No wonder it's making him think! He wears funny hats all the time!

[@tomh4754]

Hasn't he played for ages? I think he knew.

[@jordygiler]

no... that's just goes to show how capitalism is a bad idea.

[@nuhaanwar8358]

Dear John Green, Where are the snorkeling camels?

[@johntaylor9381]

This was secretly an episode on economics.

[@BubblewrapHighway]

So secret, in fact, he put the words commerce and trade in the title.

[@powerist209]

After he finished with US History, I am feeling that they should cover on obscure subjects. - History of Middle Age Europe (AKA dispelling myths about Dark Ages). - Society of Various cultures (The society of Vikings and Celts were actually advanced than we thought). - Bronze Ages Greece (Minoan era).

[@LouissimoX]

Yeah... obscure subjects like European history! :p

[@powerist209]

Well, Obscure as in not well known and "not as popular as the other parts".

[@AbhyudaySharda]

Even Medieval Indian History like the Mughal Empire This is a nice suggestion

[@bgiuliano68]

Or mythologies of the world. That'd be pretty cool

[@brendanmontuori5664]

Billy Giuliano I would love to hear john talk about the great to nail warship of the Noras under wold, or the hero twins who shot hoops with the gods of death to save their father in Mayan myths.

[@mykadassano438]

Why does John always sound like he's about to laugh during the outtro?

[@gingergamergirl98]

I've noticed that too! I think maybe a few people off-camera are screwing with him or something.

[@ethiedrawz4337]

yes, its Stan, he said "no Stan thats not gonna work in the first video of US history Native americans and Spaniards

[@gingergamergirl98]

Oh, I haven't started that series yet. Not sure if I will either; American history bores me to tears.

[@zellarsDD777]

He was thinking about the funny hats

[@ThePotatoCheeseHead]

Myka Dassano i think it's also because he has to make sure he slides his chair to the right spot in front of the camera so it probably takes quite a few takes and stan of course. :)

[@wildreams]

Shout outs to John Green from Singapore!

[@thevisiblegardener5663]

It took me quite some time to actually figure out you were saying Kota Rani and not Coat Irani or something. But then again, mispronunciation is your thing. Best Wishes, The Visible Gardener.

[@vidincrisis]

i couldnt even understand what he was saying and so was going through the comments if some got it correctly! haha thank you!

[@StardustAnlia]

Congradulation's John, on the movie release of your book Paper Towns!

[@StardustAnlia]

It's not as if I have enough status for this comment to matter.

[@VanaeCavae]

Indoneisa was originally hindu and buddhist because the ancient indian traders bought their philosophy and culture through trade. After india declined, the middle eastern traders achieved prominence in the indian ocean trade route. That is why indonesia became islamic. It was through trade. The Hindu/Buddhist Srivijaya and Majapahit Empire gave way to the Demak Sultanate. The rulers of indonesia basically followed the philosophy and culture of those who bought them wealth throught trade. The lesson is if India need to regain her prominent role, she needs to improve her economy and trading power because Money matters.

[@singharpan9859]

And Modi just backed out of trade agreement with SE Asian country group and is fighting a trade war with Malaysia. Moral of the story is you are right but currently we suck in trade.

[@universebear4891]

Thanks for the info about globes. I threw all mine in the garbage just in case.

[@peipidae7473]

APWH exam for me tomorrow... good luck for all of y'all, whether it already happened or not.

[@andreicalinog5483]

Goodluck to you too vro

[@clandestino6438]

This is one of the best presentations on the channel.

[@randompkp]

John this is the second time I am studying your history videos and I must say this might be the best episode MOSTLY bc dudes our age were not taught this VERY IMPORTANT aspect of Asian history. I mean, we should learn it bc the course is on WORLD history, but also bc it explains why every one in Europe circa 1450 was spending so much effort trying to get to Asia!!!

[@lordblazer]

Asian, Middle East, and African history. I had to correct you mostly due to the fact that many Americans believe Africa never had any sort of civilization.

[@LemonWedge123]

Alec Vaeges Nope!

[@LemonWedge123]

If that's supposed to be a statistic of how many Americans believe the universe is geocentric, you need to get a new census checker.

[@LemonWedge123]

Again, relying on ANY statistics for something as arbitrary and subjective as heliocentricism/geocentricism is ridiculous. You really think that roughly a quarter of the people in a first-world country believe that the Earth is the center of the universe? Are you on drugs?

[@LemonWedge123]

I can't tell what's worse: your ignorance or how stubbornly you cling to it. Regardless, you're clearly a waste of time. Enjoy your "facts," you surprisingly have a lot in common with the people you claim to exist.

[@stevenbeck]

Word History people where u at?

[@Skiiv04]

YES INDONESIA! I'm happy my homeland was actually mentioned and even talked about here!

[@mankytoes]

You guys really seem to get ignored in global politics, considering how many of you there are.

[@Tamaki742]

mankytoes Yeah well... We haven't really done anything dramatic since 1998... Until just recently in which we just did another election.

[@Kazegalewind]

mankytoes I'm blaming the previous President for that.

[@mankytoes]

I think the last thing I read about was the Government forcibly shaving the heads of some punks?

[@Tamaki742]

mankytoes Really? o.o Ah, maybe that was the second President. But we just had an election and Jokowi is the winner so, things might get better.

[@Scopps94]

I only learn this for fun

[@novigradian1284]

Same bro!

[@ronvelitsky6703]

me to im 12 yeres old

[@novigradian1284]

Ron Velitsky Thats the age when curiosity really kicks in. 😃😃😃

[@marlonmoncrieffe0728]

So do I. But Green's anti-Eurocentrism can border on obnoxious zealotry sometimes.

[@erikbarrett85]

+Marlon Moncrieffe yes but he does announce that nothing can be without bias, so, he's aware of things...

[@ConspiracyRisk]

The fact that relying on trade is not the best thing to do reminds me of playing the game Settlers of Catan. In my first game, I was absolutely dependant on grain because I had no access to it. It wasn't until luck allowed me to eventually get my own grain from my own resources that I was able to win.

[@EricCowan8]

great game

[@dangupman1641]

ALL THE EXPANSIONS TO THAT GAME!!!

[@micah9639]

My best friend's girlfriend was playing with us and she blocked my only source of timber. I did have almost a complete monopoly on grain so I started bribing other players to block and boycott her resources >:D

[@aliyamiasharizman804]

My mum is from a long line of merchants, my dad's ancestors were lots of pirates. All around Malacca

[@abrahamzacharia2040]

Nicely put. Reminds me of my history class. Indian Ocean Trade existed from Roman Empire's time (more than 2000 years). Spice trade brought many Jews, Syrians, Arabs and later Portuguese and Europeans to India (some records say traders from South East Asia also came). My native is close to old port Muziris which existed 2000-1000 years ago at the southern tip of Indian peninsula. :)

[@moresleep910]

Malayali anallae😀!

[@alexanderstankov459]

Sad he didn't mention that, some red sea cities became incredibly rich, billions in today's money.

[@mrpkmnfrk]

OMG AT 5:23 HE DOES THE TETRIS THEME XD

[@xJoeysWorldx]

YOU JUST SAVED MY LIFE

[@annapotzer9906]

"The great thing about seasons, is they come regularly." Me: "Yep, just like periods."

[@stacysaurusrex]

So this is the guy same guy who wrote The Fault In Our Stars? Wow, he's really smart..

[@theawkwardcurrypot9556]

Unlike the book

[@Supadubya]

2:25 "Because Elephants only live in India and Africa". WRONG- Elephants also live in Southeast Asia, and were extensively used by the Khmer Empire (of Southeast Asia) for warfare and economic purposes.

[@destituteduke]

+Supadubya As well as in the maritime Southeast Asia (just google Sumatran elephant, Javanese elephant [now extinct] and Borneo elephant)

[@chrisheckel3887]

+darangsc Well they don't live in China and thats the point.

[@wenderis]

+Supadubya they also lived in Flores with the Hobbit..but then, so?

[@malakiwi8621]

This trade route is important for the global history for a fundamental reason. The tales of the indian goods, pushed explorers, like Columbus, to search the birthplace of the rare goods of the east. If it wouldn't be for this trade route, Columbus wouldn't depart in the first place, so consequently the Americas wouldn't be explored by the europeans, at least not at the 15th century.

[@luciuspaullus1948]

What’s the lesson?

[@diegoenfuego394]

John Green reminds me of my western civ professor. His enthusiasm makes history a lot more interesting. Keep it up!

[@Rey-pg1eb]

History is awesome, and it feels good to know about the past. I prefer watching videos than reading books to learn, but sometimes I read books to learn an extra more or rethink what you learn in a history video or vice versa.

[@cazvan1]

Best video so far in the series John. Thanks so much for doing this!

[@sofiapandolfo4131]

God I'm so in love with this channel and this videos. It's such a shame that when they teach us "world history" we only hear about what happened in Europe, as if the rest of thw world didn't exist until europeans found it. Thanks so much for making this series! It's incredibly interesting and an amazing way to learn new things which is what i love the most

[@wafierocks7549]

Yay! Singapore is being mentioned ^u^

[@katyorkatiescool]

I want "don't forget to be awesome" on a t shirt, as well, please.

[@5coolashely5]

anyone else watching this the day before they have a test in AP World History ':D

[@theskywolfwarrior6060]

+acidash Yep!

[@Zajin13]

+acidash No, i just enjoy history.

[@alexaliona]

+acidash im actually doing my homework.

[@21reasons40]

YESSSS

[@NuclearGalactus]

+acidash more like the ap itself

[@filipem.quintino3232]

What about one on the Portuguese Empire and its ties with the Indian trade Routes and the start of globalization?

[@filipem.quintino3232]

Regarding the Indian Trade Route, the Portuguese had a massive impact in the trade market in Europe, since in 1498, through Vasco da Gama, they setted the first indian trade route by the sea directly to Europe. In that way, the portuguese revolucionized the way the europeans traded with all the parties in th Indian Trade Route described in the video.

[@Umeko236]

1. I love you, Crash Course team 2. I love love love to learn this way, I've learned more watching this course (which I'll finish for sure) than in all my school years. 3. I also love the mongols. 4. I also love the scripter, who changes the "awesome" final part (in the cc) for every small thing she likes. This chapter had the best quote ever! 5. THANKS!

[@matayomoshi3848]

The various Swahili coastal city states prospered as a loosely unified civilization under the awesomeness of the Sultanate of Kilwa. The ruins of the former capital, located on the island of Kilwa Kisiwani (hence the name), are about a day's drive from my hometown, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Like all awesome African things, Kilwa was destroyed by European poop. Specifically, it the envious eyes of the Portuguese. I believe they bombed Kilwa from the sea, destroying it largely overnight. Things went down hill from there for Kilwa, and eventually Portugal too. Lisbon got dished some sweet geological justice hardcore stylez in 1755. Coincidence? Or Kilwa karma? Incidentally, I believe not long after you guys made this (about a year I think) archaeologists identified a few or more Kilwan coins found in the Wessel islands of Australia's Northern Territory. Being half-Tanzanian, half-Australian, the idea that merchants from what would be modern day Tanzania were potentially derping on what would be modern day Australia, almost 100 years before Europeans swooped on by Terra Australis, is badass.

[@kieranmorris7315]

Not to mention that Chinese traders came to Australia (pre-European invasion) and traded for things like fish (i think don't quote me on that detail) along the northern and north-eastern coasts.

[@ShahjahanMasood]

Thats so awesome!

[@mri127]

But didn’t somalis liberate kilwa?

[@ubyvcrctvybuinnub]

We watched this in History Class today!! I fan girled so hard :-)

[@moth6020]

I would if this was played in mine. The party blower solo would have me jumping up and down in my seat.

[@rorysglory4305]

This route had a name when I was in school (25 years back). And the name was Spice Route. We had to study the difference and similarities between Silk Road and Spice Route. Spice route was especially interesting for me because my hometown Cochin was a busy port in the route and had trade relationships with Arabs, Jews and Chinese. All things were peaceful and easy until European conquistadors figured out this route.

[@jonathandonley3299]

I'm only 19 seconds in and I'm already shaking my head and smirking. John, I love you, man.

[@josephkim7368]

Kind of sounded like he was playing tetris theme A

[@morisan42]

he was

[@kagtkalem7115]

ode to joy

[@morisan42]

İnebolu Balıkçısı it isnt ode to joy..

[@kagtkalem7115]

Hector Woods What is it then ?

[@mattyoung7683]

It’s called Korobeiniki

[@myopinionisstupidanddoesnt606]

I love world history man

[@shwetab4059]

I loved your endpoint! I'm actually fascinated by the idea that western civilzation was not as powerful without the east, despite its many early inventions and breakthroughs. And thanks again for making CrashCourse videos! They help me keep up with my history class and have made me more interested in world affairs.

[@impalabeeper]

The West wouldn't even dominate to begin with had they not come in contact with technologies and ideas from the East (mainly from China).

[@ShadaeMastersAstrology]

***** 555500 555500 999998000 PM m..7

[@impalabeeper]

Amplified Expansion No offense but seriously kids, stop being a robot with your numbers

[@leemia7517]

I have an AP project to do on Trade and this just saved me some research and was very entertaining. Thank you John Green.

[@ninjamatic5000]

Wow. You are an amazing history guy. This is very, VERY well-made.

[@Santos-vp4oy]

Nice videos, thank you so much. Too bad those weren't around when I was in school :) Just want to say that monsoon - in portuguese ''monção'' pl. ''monções'' - is also used in portuguese speaking countries, specially Mozambique, to describe the ''rainning season'' in general.

[@user-se8mi2io1v]

No, europeans(if you think that russians are europeans) trade in The Monsoon Marketplace. Russian trader Afanasiy Niktin was in India in 1468-1474. He wrote "A Journey Beyond the Three Seas" and he described his journey to India like normal thing. He also visited Ethiopia, but text of description of this country was burned(thanks to poles) and we know only that he visited it but not was it the normal thing to russian traders or not.

[@lucynawoznicki3568]

Explain under wants circumstances Poles burned it.

[@vye6737]

The fact that John made the Tetris theme gives me life

[@xiaoxuanwang2570]

I just love this video so much, I watched it for 4 years already!

[@kaylawest2088]

5:23-5:26 TETRIS!!

[@moth6020]

It's a reference to Bank's Song Wednesday song "The Man Who Throws The Tetris Piece"

[@transplant8406]

The lateen sail is believed to have developed independently in different parts of the world. Also, the entire advantage to a lateen sail is windward performance. If you're sailing with the monsoon, you're sailing downwind. A square sail would actually provide better performance with less effort. A lateen is sort of like using a sports car when you need a cargo van.

[@lychenus]

now this is a great episode. i love this that are not taught in the standard textbooks.

[@uglymugshot7932]

These videos are the only thin thread keeping me from dropping out... thank you kindly....

[@vagabondsoul1286]

Don't stress that 'j' in Srivijaya, John!

[@soupy4099]

I think cgp grey put it best when he said that it is not the actions of great men or those of the masses that shape history but the endless march of science and technology.

[@mayanderhy]

this video BY FAR helped me so much more than any other

[@ivanengel4289]

brilliant video, the last part is sublime

[@TheProgressiveHead]

What about mentioning the extensive sea trading exchanged by India and Europe? The spices trade was introduced to Europe on a large scale after the sea way to India was discovered by portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama in 1497.

[@ayishasiddiqah1025]

you mean after it was colonized. it already existed and traded with other countries before the portuguese colonized them. maybe not europe but other still important countries. to say it was discovered by them is folly. people already knew there was place called india.

[@DurgeshSirwani]

***** I think she said 'sea way to India was discovered'

[@ohsosmooth01]

You know, looking at that map of the Indian Ocean @ 1.15, you'd think that at least someone would've visited (even if by accident) Australia. I think they did and were so completely unimpressed by what they saw they forgot about and/or just didn't bother to tell anyone about it. Kinda like Christopher Columbus and his "discovery" of the Americas, now we know the vikings got there about 500 maybe more years before him... and from a couple of videos ago, most of us are thinking about the possibility of Mansa Musa trading with south america. Most people who are interested in history are into the wars and empires and events. But Johns right, it's stuff like this, trade, that makes the world tick.

[@richielomas9564]

Actually, Australia was involved in the Indian ocean trade. Numerous artifacts as well as Aboriginal oral history, reveals that coastal aboriginal Australians did indeed engage in the "Monsoon Marketplace". The idea that Australia was isolated until the arrival of Captain Cook falls into that pillar of Eurocentrism: A place isn't "discovered" until a European discovers it.

[@unitelanka]

there have been contact with indonesians and Australian Aborigines. but i don't remember if that happened after the Dutch and the English came to Australia. Indonesians traded tobacco with Australian aborigines, so much so that smoking rituals are part of some aboriginal socities that were in contact.

[@nathenhutchison6182]

Tobacco was indigenous to North America, no? So if they were trading tobacco, then it had to happen after trading commenced between the Americas and the rest of the world.

[@FoxLady2]

I loved the closing line. So true, so accurate.

[@TerraSensei]

I love your videos! I watch them all over and over. I am a huge history buff, so I love hearing your guys' take on it.

[@erictaylor5462]

That is SO true. When I lived in Nevada California was jacking up state business and corporate taxes. I guess the idea was motivated by the desire to punish "big business". At the same time Nevada began an aggressive ad campaign to encourage businesses to incorporate in Nevada (NO corporate tax). This is why I lived in Nevada rather than my home state, California. It was where the work was. High corporate taxes devastate the economy. Politicians think it's a good source of money and never seem to realize that 5% of a lot is much more than 30% of a little.

[@MrsYellowsocks]

Growing up in Indonesia, I think we called it the Spice Road. Since according to what we earned they primarily traded spice. I was wondering when you would mention Indonesia or south east asian history, glad that its finally being mentioned.

[@CBeard849]

Love these Crash Course videos. Keep them coming.

[@Bantayan1]

Watching this with captions on, I've learned to appreciate the period. Thank you ............

[@adamzulfikar]

i am from indonesia, and i don't have an exam :) but thank you for this. very informative :)

[@madesomabali]

yo Indonesia!

[@gunjakarta]

7:35 Indonesia.., yes we has largest Muslim population today, but actually the conversion took place much later, circa 15th century, yet the Indian ocean trade (Moonson Marketplace) was much older, peaked since 7th century Srivijaya. 7:55 the temple is called Borobudur in Central Java, built by Sailendra dynasty in early 9th century. 8:27 Srivijaya.., yes since 7th century they trade with Muslim merchants from Arabia and India, as well as Chinese, but they remain as Mahayana Buddhist well untill their collapse in 13th century. Actually Islam established later in Samudra Pasai in Aceh and then Malacca, then it spread throughout the archipelago. Thank you Mr Green for mentioning this side of the world..., Indonesia.

[@shabaanmarijani8447]

Kwa mara nyingine tena shukrani Crash Course kwa kutuwakilisha waswahili ipasavyo... Just another Swahili from Tanzania the East African country once in the thick and mix of the Indian ocean trade expressing his elation at being accurately represented.

[@karrashin]

Omg, love the part at 5:23 with the party blowers!

[@VonOzbourne]

Any lip readers figure out what he said the phrase of the week was before they overdubbed "unless you are the Mongols"?

[@Firefin]

MORE BLOW-OUT SOLOS PLZ

[@richardclark511]

+Firefin3 tetris theme.

[@Milienius]

An excellent point on merchants which is interesting when you think about how it was mostly the merchant class who ran Carthage

[@skeera1]

Great Video. I have been studying the indian ocean for the past 5 weeks now but today i just watched this and it has just clarified things for me

[@rooney3102]

Who has WHAP exam on Thursday!!!!

[@clarawenway4882]

Sammmeee

[@TheMeghanHenry]

+Rooney3 MEEEEE

[@yin_solstice]

+Rooney3 trying to finish all 42 videos by Thursday as well as mastering the DBQ essay >.< Good luck guys~

[@dominicbowmancarroll1620]

+Xiah S. Good luck to you too

[@noname8354]

Era 3 test tomorrow for me

[@multifandom203]

Thank you so much for this. As indonesian, it feels good to be acknowledge of our existence throughout history pre-european colonialism era. Especially when you talked about the reason of the demise of Srivijaya, which overlooked often by teachers here when they thought the history of this specific pre-existing kingdom. Lot's of thing to learn as usual, awesome!!!

[@lambusaab]

Best class room I've been to.

[@cynthiakhan9006]

You can see the camera and wires in the reflection of that fireplace....but the party blower solo was on point.

[@nickhultz3080]

Anyone watching this before their AP test today?

[@3214lifelol]

I never knew the Mongols converted so much of history o.O

[@shangeam8250]

+Inform The People/#Bernie2016 well, the did have the largest land empire ever

[@ce1402]

Great way to sum it up in that last line.

[@rishabhgupta4355]

Good knowledgeble videos...Great work to share knowledge...Thanks to the makers..

[@sortofpink5614]

Anyone else watching this before the AP World History exam?

[@erinmcdonald6164]

+Emma Carstairs me!!

[@jadaspencer8927]

+Emma Carstairs My exams Thursday lol

[@sortofpink5614]

+Jada Spencer Same, I'm gonna die. Do you have study tips??

[@ryan0823smith]

Preparing for the AP Test, who's with me?

[@iansmith7724]

Collin Yates Don't forget to use four HIPPO's in your DBQ. Also don't Forget about the contextualization, ace paragraphs and synthesis! You can pass b, just remember that the period between west kicking but and classical civilizations is the mongols and the mongols layed the fondatioj for the modern world 🌎

[@user-bu3xz1vy8l]

I'm an AP World Culture learner in China. This video is really helpful to my study and research project. I really appreciate this video.

[@liamhuxhold2583]

Last-minute studying for the AP World History exam! Thanks John Green!

[@GKS225]

Malaysia is mentioned in a Crash Course episode!! Wohoo

[@mrscruffser]

"because elephants only live in india and africa" ...what about sri lanka?

[@superanimegirl4ever]

I'm so happy that my history teacher loves John Green, too. First it was videos in class and now it's for homework!!! Life is AWESOME!!