A) Identify the main argument made in the passage about Indian Ocean ports. b) Identify ONE factor that facilitated the regional trade in Calicut, as illustrated in the passage
c) Describe ONE similarity between the commercial interactions in the regions mentioned in the passage and commercial interactions along the overland Silk Roads in the period circa 1200-1450? Lo

a) The main argument in the passage about Indian Ocean ports is that they were many and accommodated varied-sized ships from many parts of the world.

b) The ONE factor that enabled Calicut to become a regional trade hub is its geographical location as a coastal city. Its port accommodated various ships and the products sought after in other parts of the world, especially the spices.

c) The similarities between the commercial interactions of the regions and the Silk Roads were that the interactions, just like the Silk Roads, created trading cities and independent kingdoms. People from various locations in the world converged to these trading locations, bringing in their different cultures that enlivened and enriched the trading cities.

Thus, the passage developed the advantages that accrue to cities with natural trade facilities.

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1. The main argument made about Indian Ocean ports is that they serve people from different parts of the world.

2. Their accommodation of different religions

3. Diffusion of religion is one similarity between the regions described in the passage and the Silk Roads.

Explanation:

From the passage, the narrator goes on to show that the Indian ports of Hormuz and Calicut served people from different Asian and Arabic countries around the globe. When he arrived at Calicut, he noted the cohabitation of Muslims and Hindus. Their tolerance of each other must have facilitated trade.

Just like the Silk Roads which served merchants from different parts of the world, thus leading to a diffusion of many aspects of culture, the Indian ports also provided the same advantage.

they were the direct result of some cultural difussion.