There is controversial evidence of contact between the two great pre-columbian centers of civilization: the Andes and Mesoamerica. Domesticated Maize is native to Mesoamerica yet it was farmed in the Andes. Cocoa might have evolved in Amazonia (where is still more diverse) but was introduced and domesticated in Mesoamerica. There is still more controversial evidence in common metallurgy styles, cultural quirks, and so on that point that Mesoamerica and the Andean cultures might have traded with each other, probably not directly but by intermediaries in Colombia and Central America.
What if they indeed traded directly? While the Darién Gap is notoriously hostile, if Europeans conquistadores who often made an enemy of everyone they encountered could do cross-continent expeditions, it isn't far fetched that some enterprising merchants with better relationships would try the same. There is also the sea factor. Caribbean canoes were large and advanced and some chroniclers seemingly speak of littoral trade. The Colombian coast is a bit rainy but given enough incentives it could have sea trade.
(maybe the Polynesians could give some expertise to the coastal Andean cultures. They certainly would benefit from more fishing)
So assuming better trade routes, or a delayed discovery of America that makes the Inca and Aztecs (or their successors) to send expeditions Out There, could there be an American Silk Road? What would they trade? Textiles and metal artifacts from the Andes, for sure, and maybe exotic goods such as cocoa, precious stones and feathers from Mesoamerica. In any case the routes seem perilous for trading llamas (an Inca emperor could send them as gifts, but it seems too obsequious and also they might die in the way as hardy as they are) but crops and seeds might work if there is reason for it.
The thing I'm very interested in is the cultural stuff. In the Eurasian Silk Road Europeans and Chinese had little actual contact: for the Europeans China and India were mysterious lands full of monsters and treasure, and at least for the Chinese Europe was a far, cold land full of irrelevant barbarians (I'm generalizing of course). How would the Andeans and Mesoamericans see each other? And here's a key thing: the Andean cultures, the Inca in particular, seemed to lack ***market*** economics and currency altogether, with everything controlled by the local lords (palace economies?), which reached an impressive degree with the Inca state economy. No doubt individual trade existed but to a much lesser degree than in say, Mesoamerica, where from my understanding trade and merchants were a very active part of society and diplomacy.
This brings me to the amusing image of an Aztec trader trying to make a deal with an unflinching Incan apu, or an Incan envoy from the palaces in the high mountains adapting to a rowdy Mesoamerican port in the Caribbean.
Both might appreciate the very interesting coincidence between the Mesoamerican Feathered Serpents and the South American Amarus, though...
And even only discussing OTL, Amazonian and Chaquenian tribes were aware of the Incan empire, and I think North American natives knew about the Mesoamerican cities too. Isn't too far fetched that they might have known each other, as much as Europeans knew that China existed?
I know there is an excellent map and scenario that discusses this, and I never get tired of linking to it (hell I'll probably do it again), but nothing wrong with a new discussion is there?
Anyways, just putting the concept out there. Thoughts?
What if they indeed traded directly? While the Darién Gap is notoriously hostile, if Europeans conquistadores who often made an enemy of everyone they encountered could do cross-continent expeditions, it isn't far fetched that some enterprising merchants with better relationships would try the same. There is also the sea factor. Caribbean canoes were large and advanced and some chroniclers seemingly speak of littoral trade. The Colombian coast is a bit rainy but given enough incentives it could have sea trade.
(maybe the Polynesians could give some expertise to the coastal Andean cultures. They certainly would benefit from more fishing)
So assuming better trade routes, or a delayed discovery of America that makes the Inca and Aztecs (or their successors) to send expeditions Out There, could there be an American Silk Road? What would they trade? Textiles and metal artifacts from the Andes, for sure, and maybe exotic goods such as cocoa, precious stones and feathers from Mesoamerica. In any case the routes seem perilous for trading llamas (an Inca emperor could send them as gifts, but it seems too obsequious and also they might die in the way as hardy as they are) but crops and seeds might work if there is reason for it.
The thing I'm very interested in is the cultural stuff. In the Eurasian Silk Road Europeans and Chinese had little actual contact: for the Europeans China and India were mysterious lands full of monsters and treasure, and at least for the Chinese Europe was a far, cold land full of irrelevant barbarians (I'm generalizing of course). How would the Andeans and Mesoamericans see each other? And here's a key thing: the Andean cultures, the Inca in particular, seemed to lack ***market*** economics and currency altogether, with everything controlled by the local lords (palace economies?), which reached an impressive degree with the Inca state economy. No doubt individual trade existed but to a much lesser degree than in say, Mesoamerica, where from my understanding trade and merchants were a very active part of society and diplomacy.
This brings me to the amusing image of an Aztec trader trying to make a deal with an unflinching Incan apu, or an Incan envoy from the palaces in the high mountains adapting to a rowdy Mesoamerican port in the Caribbean.
Both might appreciate the very interesting coincidence between the Mesoamerican Feathered Serpents and the South American Amarus, though...
And even only discussing OTL, Amazonian and Chaquenian tribes were aware of the Incan empire, and I think North American natives knew about the Mesoamerican cities too. Isn't too far fetched that they might have known each other, as much as Europeans knew that China existed?
I know there is an excellent map and scenario that discusses this, and I never get tired of linking to it (hell I'll probably do it again), but nothing wrong with a new discussion is there?
Anyways, just putting the concept out there. Thoughts?
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