Silk Road Cities for Mediterranean Access

To reach the Mediterranean, Silk Road traders targeted these gateway cities:

1. Constantinople (Istanbul), Turkey: Byzantine capital at Black Sea–Mediterranean junction.
2. Antioch, Turkey: Ancient hub near Mediterranean coast.
3. Alexandria, Egypt: "Jewel of the Mediterranean," major port and learning center.
4. Beirut, Lebanon: Historic trading port and cultural crossroads.
5. Damascus, Syria: Inland but connected via routes to coastal ports.

These cities linked overland Silk Road networks to Mediterranean maritime trade.