A Journey to Trade and Gain Power
Key Knowledge
Pupils will learn that throughout history humans have undertaken journeys to trade and to gain wealth. Pupils will learn that these journeys have shaped and influenced peoples understanding of the world and different world cultures. Pupils will revisit learning from Year 3 and Year 4 for trade was often linked to exploration and attack.
Phase 1 Periods in history of journeys for trading and people's desire to gain wealth
Pupils will not learn about every journey of trade. Different examples from a range of periods have been chosen to provide a historical insight. Learning is focused on:
-understanding the context and the reasons for trade
- how people reacted to these journeys of trade – consequences of trade journeys
- how things changed because of the trade journeys, including, where relevant, the impact of these journeys on our lives today.
Part A – Trading in Ancient Greece, from 6th Century BC
Pupils will know that this period of history is outside of living memory.
Pupils will record significant events on a time line.
Pupils will learn that the Ancient Greeks first traded with each other, however because the soil in Greece is only good for growing a few kinds of plants, the Greeks began to trade with other cultures so they could have enough food to support a growing population.
Pupils will learn that the Ancient Greeks became very good sailors because of their need to undertake sea journeys to trade.
Pupils will learn that Ancient Greeks (early period) traded with people in the Mediterranean region, notable southern Italy and Sicily.
People will learn about the types of good the Ancient Greeks bought and sold and how the Greeks had to develop specific types of pottery to transport their olive oil and wine – know as Greek amphorae.
Pupils will learn that over time the Greeks traded more than goods and that the journeys undertaken for trade also resulted in the sharing of ideas, religions, technologies, philosophies and foods.
Part B –Middle Ages (8th to 13th Century) The Silk Road and the importance of Baghdad
Pupils will know that this period of history is outside of living memory.
Pupils will record significant events on a time line.
Pupils will learn about the Silk Road (Silk Route), knowing that it was a network of trade routes linking China with the West.
Pupils will know that silk went westward and wools, gold and silver went east.
Pupils will know that the Silk Road resulted in more than trade. For example, pupil will know that China received Christianity and Buddhism via the Silk Road.
Pupils will know that the Middle East was a natural crossroads for traders from Europe, Asia and Africa and that Baghdad (sometimes known as the Round City) was an international trade centre on the Silk Roads network.
Pupils will learn how journeys to trade impacted on Baghdad. Including:
- Baghdad as a centre of learning and the hub of the Golden Age of Islam
- The House of Wisdom and the sharing of knowledge
- Sharing of cultures and beliefs.
Part C – 16th to the 19th Century – The Transatlantic Slave Trade
Pupils will know that this period of history is outside of living memory.
Pupils will record significant events on a time line.
Pupils will know that in the past people traded other people as goods, treated people as property that they owned.
Pupils will learn that historians estimate around 12 million Africans were forcibly transported across the Atlantic and traded between 1500 to 1800.
Pupils will learn that the slave trade made a great deal of money and wealth for those who sold and exchanged slaves and they often ignored the fact it was inhuman and unfair.
Pupils will learn that many Africans died while being transported, travelling to the African coast in chained lines (called coffles) and on-board ships.
Pupils will learn about the British slave traders and the three-legged journey called the ‘triangular trade’.
Pupils will learn reasons for the slave trade - how labour was required, e.g. sugar plantations in the West Indies and South America.
Pupils will learn about the terrible conditions for slaves through stories.
Pupils will learn about the slave rebellions, public opposition to the slave trade and how the trading of slaves was eventually made illegal.
Pupils will learn about the impact of the slave trade:
-impact on Africa – the constant wars and the loss of millions of young people meant Africa fell behind the rest of the world and is still, today, underdeveloped compared to Europe and North America.
-pupils will learn about the impact of the African slave trade on the countries where they were traded. For example, musical instruments such as the banjo, food such as rice and peas, dances such as the Brazilian Samba were imported and influenced by West African slaves.
Pupils will consider the impact of the slave trade on Britain and how the slave trade money generate much wealth for Britain in the 18th and 19 Century.
Pupils will consider whether countries, including Britain, should apologies for what happened in the past and should pay compensation to African countries.
Phase 2 Trade today in the 21st Century
Pupils will consider trade today and how trade is different from history.
Pupils will consider te impact of technology on trade, particularly transport and the internet.
Pupils will consider the distances involved in trade today (for example food products) and the impact of trade on our planet (linked to Autumn Term Golden Thread)