Mediterranean Sea as a Cradle for Trading, Culture and Civilization.

Trading
In the ancient time, mediterranean sea was an important trading
port due to the advancement in sailing. Traders in the Mediterranean
uses ships with square sails and oars, while Indian Ocean sails were
triangular sails and had no oars.
By the third millennium BCE, the traders were using established
maps of sea route around mediterranean sea. The existence of
mediterranean sea allows product to travel all the way from Europe to
the Indian sea. And during the first Roman Empire, traders from this
empire sailed to India, and at times, China.
Mediterranean sea is known for trading activities due to the strong
development of the regions around it. Being in the middle of three big
continents, this sea is instrumental to keep trading from these three
continents to run around. Due to this factor, goods such as spices, silk,
bronze and what not , can be imported across continents.

Culture
Friedrich Hegel once said about the Mediterranean: "For the three
quarters of the globe, the Mediterranean Sea is similarly the uniting
element and the centre of World History."
For instance, sailors would usually make this pitstop to repair their
ships. They would either look for experienced people to repair their ship
or just repair themselves. This is where the collision of technology
happened. It allowed the spread of technology like the technology of
having an anchor that was practiced by the European had been applied
in Asia.
As we can see, the trade route lead to cultural diffusion and cross
cultural exchange. Specifically through Rome and Greece trading with
China and India. It was unique and had a larger importance because it
connected three continents; Africa, Asia, and Europe, making it the
biggest cultural centre.. Most of the Western population was centered
around this trade route. All in all, the Mediterranean Sea was notably
vital for merchants and travelers of ancient times because it allowed for
easy trade and exchange of cultures and their beliefs.
Civilization

Large civilizations were able to flourish in the countries around the

mediterranean sea. Why? It was a highway for merchants from
phoenicia, carthage, greece, sicily, and rome (who called it Mare
Nostrum). Rome had thriven during their golden age. The trade route led
to a rivalry for power and dominance. After Rome’s dominance, the
Byzantine empire and the Arabs had control. Along with opening trade
and creating cultural diffusion, it created conflicts and tension between
societies.
Interestingly, the intellectual started in mediterranean sea. The first
largest and significant library by the Egyptians was started here in
300BC, the Library of Alexandria. It is also best to note that among 44
oldest universities, 25 of them were originated in the Mediterranean
basin.
Location

Trade in the Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean is a vast sea positioned between Europe to the north,
Africa to the south, and Asia to the east. It covers an area of approximately
2.54 million square kilometers; at its longest it is 3,800 kilometers, and at
its widest it is 800 kilometers.
the Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean
surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely
enclosed by land : north of it is Anatolia and Europe, South of it is
North Africa, and East is Levant.
The Mediterranean is a beautiful place. With temperate climates, sparkling blue waters,
and abundant natural resources, it's really no surprise that some of the earliest
civilizations in Africa and Eurasia developed around the Mediterranean Sea. It's also
unsurprising that these various civilizations decided to stay in touch. The Mediterranean
Sea features consistent winds and currents, and ancient sailors were quickly able to
move from sailing small riverboats along the coasts to sailing through wider areas of
open sea. Throughout history, the Mediterranean Sea was the center of expansive
networks of communication and trade, and ancient people first used it to connect the
region and later used it to connect the world.
Climate
Mediterranean climate is very pleasant with warm, dry
summers and cool, mild winters.

Technologies of the Mediterranean Sea Lanes Advances in navigation (geographical,

astronomical, and cosmographical advances)