Silk Road

 The Silk Road was an ancient trade route that stretched between the two great civilizations of Rome and China, through which goods and ideas were exchanged. It was not a single route from east to west, but a network of many routes that stretched over land and sea. Along with trade, this route also facilitated the development of science, technology, literature, art, and other fields of study.

Historians say that the Silk Road routes, which were established when the Han Dynasty of China officially began trading with the West in 130 B.C., were in use until A.D. 1453. It got its name from the strong silk trade that took place during that period. This valuable fabric originated in China. China had a monopoly on silk production until others gained the secret of its production. Silk traveled west along this trade route, and wool, gold, and silver traveled east.  In addition to these, the route facilitated trade in other textiles, spices, grains, fruits and vegetables, wood, metal products, precious stones, and other valuable goods.

As Roman territory in Asia gradually declined and Arab power grew in the Levant, the Silk Road became unsafe and travel ceased. The route was revived under the Mongols in the 13th and 14th centuries, when the Venetian Marco Polo used it to travel to Cathay (China). It is now widely believed that the bacteria that caused the Black Death pandemic in Europe in the mid-14th century spread primarily along this trade route.

The Ottoman Empire boycotted trade with China and closed these trade routes. Although the Silk Road had been used for international trade for about 600 years, these routes had a major impact on commerce, culture, and history.  This route also contributed to the spread of Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and other religions to various regions. Nestorian Christianity and Buddhism (from India) reached China via the Silk Road. In addition, these routes played a significant role in the formation of various cultures and cities in China, Japan, Egypt, Persia, and the Indian subcontinent. The route included a series of trading posts and markets that were used to facilitate the storage, transportation, and exchange of goods. Travelers along the maritime routes of the Silk Road stopped at ports for clean drinking water and trading opportunities, and trading centers grew up around these ports.

A section of the Silk Road still exists in the form of a national highway connecting Pakistan and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China.  Moreover, in 2013, China announced plans to revive the Silk Route under the name "One Belt, One Road", connecting more than 60 countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.