In what ways did long term commerce act as a motor of change in premodern world history?

-exchange led to the creation of larger, more powerful states

-the spread of Buddhism and Islam

-spread of epidemic diseases beyond local regions, with sometimes devastating effects

-spread of plants, animals, technological

-It altered consumption patterns

-encouraged specialization and diminished the economic self-sufficiency of local societies

-means of social mobility, traders often becoming a distinct social group

-Gab between rich and poor grew

-New civilizations developed along roads, places for merchant to stop