900-1250 C.E. optimistic trade networks

This is an optimistic map covering the approximate timeline of 900-1250 C.E. This is one period in history when the stars align for a trade-o-phile like myself. 

In northern Europe you have the rising commercial powers of German and Champagne cities. The German cities will found the Hanseatic league in a few years from the end date of this map - unfortunately. But the Hanseatic league is a small sacrifice when you compare it to how the rest of the world fares in the commercial networks of Euroasia.

The European German and Champagne cities stimulate trade with their trade fairs - some of which live on to this day, where Frankfurts trade fair is one of the more successful examples of this. Luxury trade in this region mostly concerned fine cloth from the Flanders region where Bruges is the chief city. Far eastern goods arrives in scarce quantities through Genua. 

In spain, the muslims, jews and christian states live in a love-hate-relationship. Here christians can get their hands on luxury far eastern goods arriving from Alexandria to Seville. But as the reconquista goes on, the far eastern goods start to lack for the christians. This, the italian city states take notice, and exploit the market by trading with the muslims and creating trade posts all around the Mediterranean - with some help by the crusades, of course. 

The North African cities thrives from the trans-saharan trade, but only as long as Iberia is in muslim hands, where the bigger part of the north African market is located. The currents and coasts are treacherous along the north African coast, so port-hopping is vital for any trader who wishes to travel from Seville to Alexandria - Unless, you're willing to take the land route along the coast together with the annual hajj caravans. 

In West Africa, the demand for salt is increasing for the major population boom going on in Timbuktu. The region is rich with gold and the West African kingdoms are more than willing to trade it for the salt that is mined in the Saharan desert. The Trans-Sahara trade is the gold artery for the entirety of the western half of Afro-Euroasia. 

Egypt and Mesopotamia are competing for the lucrative spice trade in the Indian ocean. Baghdad and Antioch wants the trade to flow through the Gulf, while Cairo and Alexandria wants the trade to travel through the Red Sea. Baghdad, being unknowing of its horrible fate to come, lives and prospers at the crossroads of the worlds biggest trade routes. Aden and Muscat are the gatekeepers of the respective routes.

The Arabian incense trade is waning, and has ever since monotheism started to replace polytheism. The trade lives on due to the pilgrimages to Mecca and Medina, the two places where all the muslims in the world meet and connect, before they travel back to their respective homelands - perhaps a great opportunity to tie distant trade relations?  

The Rus, or vikings, entered the trade game earlier than what this map suggests, but their trade with the Caspian Sea and Constantinople is still growing strong. The Rus trade along the endless rivers of Volga and Dneiper, which results in great riches to the cities of Kiev and Novgorod. What little is left of the luxury goods as they travel to the comparatively declining Baltic sea ends up in Visby and along the German and Polish north coast.

Just as their northern African fellows, the east African swahili coast thrives with gold and ivory which they channel up along the Indian ocean trade. These coasts are long since settled by arab and persian traders, and has a long history as a participant of the Indian ocean trade, however, they are yet to reach their peak.

In northern India, newly established sultanates has integrated the region into the Dar-al-islam, and trades on the same principles as their fellow muslims all over the Indian ocean. Having a common language and jurisdictional trade guidelines that is offered by the Qur'an integrates the Indian ocean trade more deeply than ever before. 

In southern India, on the Malabar and eastern coast, the Chola empire is at its height. The empire raids the surrounding coastlines as far away as Sumatra, and after the raiding and conquest is over, their trade guilds follows. The Cholas have close trade relations with the Abbasids of Baghdad as well as with Song dynasty China. 

On southern Sumatra and Malaysia the Srivijaya is expanding, and they, just as the Cholas, wants in on the profitable Indian ocean trade. They're growing to become a great mercantile empire controlling all the trade traveling through the narrow strait of Malacca. 

In China, the Song Dynasty rules strong and they open up the country to foreign trade and welcome any foreigner to their Southern ports. However, the great wealth of China is not found abroad, but within, along it's many rivers and the Grand Channel connecting the great population centers of China. In Chang'an, however, the Silk Road originates and travels along the Taklamakan desert along one of three routes until they all converge in Samarkand and Merv, from where the routes continue towards the west - all back to the city of Baghdad.