Discuss the developments that affected the trade of two societies, each chosen from a different region.

Candidates will offer a considered and balanced review of the developments that affected the trade of two societies. While the focus of the response must be within the timeframe of this topic, the two societies need not be contemporaneous. However, each of the examples chosen must be from a different region. The developments that are discussed may or may not be applied to both societies and they may be considered to have had a largely positive impact, a largely negative impact, or a mixed impact on the trade of those societies. Each society may be considered separately or, where appropriate, a thematic approach may be used if candidates wish to compare the relative importance of specific developments that affected the trade of both their chosen societies.