Silk Road, a vast network of trade routes established during the Han Dynasty of China linking the East and West.

Han Dynasty

Silk Road

A vast network of trade routes established during the Han Dynasty of China, linking the East and West.

Han Dynasty

The dynasty during which the Silk Road was established (206 BC - 220 AD), promoting trade and cultural exchanges.

Silk

The most valuable commodity traded on the Silk Road, highly sought after in Europe and the Middle East.

Cultural Exchange

The transfer of knowledge, religious beliefs, art, and cultural practices facilitated by the Silk Road.

Key Commodities

Main goods traded on the Silk Road, including silk, spices, tea, porcelain, and precious metals.

Decline of the Silk Road

Began in the late 14th century due to the rise of maritime trade routes and political instability.

Samarkand

A prominent trading hub along the Silk Road, important for trade and cultural exchange.

Porcelain

Known as 'china,' it was a valued good traded along the Silk Road for its beauty and utility.

Spices

Essential goods traded on the Silk Road used for flavoring and preserving food.

Trade Routes

A series of interconnected routes leading from China through Central Asia to the Mediterranean.