9781422281215

Roman standards gradually replaced local standards mak- ing trade among different parts of the empire easier.

How We Know About the Ancient World

Archaeologists are people who study ancient civilizations. They put together many pieces of information to form an idea of how people lived and what they valued based on clues these civilizations left behind. Experts often disagree on what specific clues mean, and over time, new discover- ies can change the way they interpret these clues. Even modern scientific techniques cannot give the exact date when an object was made. However, with enough clues, it is possible for archaeologists to get a good idea of the routes traders followed and the goods they exchanged. Some of the best clues to trade in the ancient world come from burial chambers. From the pyramids of Egypt to grave mounds in Siberia, many cultures buried objects of value in the tombs of their rulers. Since rulers were impor- tant people, the buried objects often include rare items acquired through trade. These provide proof that goods were exchanged between distant lands. Some tomb objects can be dated using a scientific technique called radiocarbon dating, also called carbon-14 dating. Radiocarbon dating only works on material that originally came from plants or animals such wool or linen cloth, bones, or leather. It does not work on metal, stone, or glass objects such as coins or jewelry. A carbon atom normally contains six neutrons and six protons giving it an atomic

14

Global Trade in the Ancient World