The Silk Road: Ancient Trade Network Linking China and Rome

The Silk Road was a vast network of land and sea routes connecting China to the Mediterranean from the 2nd century BCE to the 15th century CE. It comprised two main overland branches:

• Northern Route: China → Central Asia → Caspian/Black Sea → Europe.
• Southern Route: China → India → Europe.

Goods traded: silk, gold, silver, ivory, spices, gems. Beyond commerce, it enabled profound cultural, technological, and religious exchange across Eurasia and Africa. The term "Silk Road" endures as a symbol of East-West connectivity.