Silk Road IHS Sacacian HWH 9

Silk Road (definition)

A network of trade routes connecting China and the Mediterranean Sea from 130 BCE to 1453 CE

Why the Silk Road

• Silk from China was the most lucrative and sought-after luxury item traded across Eurasia

• Romans explored the route east to try to obtain silk for a low price

• Over time this connection between Europe and Asia solidified through established trade routes

• Silk eventually made it to the Persian Empire, where it was introduced to the Romans

• The use of silk by fabric was developed in China during the Agricultural Revolution

• Originally reserved for use by the Emperor

Commodity (definiton)

Materials, goods, and resources that can be traded, bought, or sold

(e.g. From the East: ceramics, jade, bronze, lacquer and iron • From the West: gold and other precious metals, ivory, gems, and glass)

Why was the Silk Road important

Silk Road spread languages, religious beliefs, scientific knowledge, and new technologies (like paper and gunpowder)

Caravan (definition)

A group of people traveling together, often on a trade expedition

Caravanserai (definition)

roadside inns where travelers could rest and recover from the day's journey; supported the flow of commerce, information and people across the Silk Road.

Merchants did not lead their caravans across the whole route, instead transport their goods between Caravanserai

Driving factors of the Silk Road

1. Desire for profit

2. Fascination with the exotic

3. Way to enhance the political power of a society

Profit from the Silk Road

• Lots of money to be made on the Silk Road

• Selling unique goods to people not familiar with them could provide more income than selling the goods locally

• Middlemen along the route would profit by the transport of goods

How did the Silk Road provide contact with the exotic

• Lots of these commodities were new and fascinating

• The Silk Road provided a route for items to travel long distances to places where the items were not available

How might a society enhance their political power by

use of the Silk Road

• Strong economy means more power for an empire/civilization

• Provided an easy route for soldiers to invade other territories without having to make their own paths

Exotic (definition)

originating in or characteristic of a distant foreign country; strikingly, excitingly, or mysteriously different or unusual