Transport, Communication and Trade

About this unit

This unit explains how people, goods and ideas move across the world. It covers land, water and air transport, pipelines, communication systems, and international trade. Transport and communication link producing areas with markets and shape patterns of trade between countries.

Key ideas

• Roads, railways, waterways, airways and pipelines each suit different loads and distances.
• Trans-continental railways and highways link distant parts of continents.
• Major ocean routes, and the Suez and Panama canals, are key arteries of world trade.
• Pipelines carry liquids and gases; satellites and the internet have transformed communication.
• International trade arises from differences in resources, production and development between countries.
• Ports act as gateways for trade; the WTO sets rules for global trade.

How to prepare

Use an outline map to mark trans-continental railways, major sea routes and canals with their terminal points. Learn the types of ports with examples, and terms like balance of trade, dumping and free trade. Questions often ask for end points of routes and features of canals.