Historian Dr. Neil Clere and colleagues studied 14th-century maritime trade between East Africa and the Indian subcontinent. They hypothesized that while elite historical archives primarily highlight luxury goods like silk and porcelain, the bulk of the trade volume and economic activity actually consisted of mundane agricultural commodities like grain and timber, which left fewer traces in official customs records. Which finding, if true, would most directly support Clere and colleagues' hypothesis?
- Archaeological excavations of 14th-century port warehouses in East Africa revealed large quantities of storage jars containing residues of imported grains and fragments of non-native timber.Answer
- BFourteenth-century customs records from major Indian Ocean ports detail the precise tariffs levied on imported silk, porcelain, and other elite commodities.
- CDiaries written by wealthy merchants in East Africa during the 14th century express a strong preference for purchasing local timber over importing wood from the Indian subcontinent.
- DContemporary economic analyses of modern Indian Ocean trade show that agricultural goods now constitute a much higher percentage of total trade value than luxury items do.
Answer
The finding that archaeological excavations of 14th-century port warehouses in East Africa revealed large quantities of storage jars containing residues of imported grains and fragments of non-native timber.
The correct answer provides physical evidence of the import and storage of grain and timber in 14th-century East African ports. Since the researchers hypothesized that these mundane goods were traded in large volumes but omitted from written records, finding physical remains of these goods directly supports their claim.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Identifying textual evidence that directly supports a specific research hypothesis.