THE SILK ROAD

The Silk Road is a route of trading that was used in ancient times. It was created during the Han dynasty of China around 130 BCE. It linked the various regions in commerce trading starting from 130 BCE and continuing up to 1453 CE. The silk roads extended towards the south into the Indian Ocean and the pacific. It also consists of several business routes extending to Ethiopia and India. The roads passed through lands which are now known as Iraq, Tibet, Afghanistan, Mongolia, and Turkey. Several countries were also in the important stops of the silk routes. 

Historical aspects of the Silk Road

The silk route covered more than 4000 miles on land. It was mainly used to trade a wide variety of products and also the transportation of costly goods to long-distance places. It was also used by people who are trying to get to various cities. It can be estimated from the presence of Chinese silk in Egypt that, as early as 1000 BCE, the roads were used for trading. During the Han dynasty, China extended these routes to other countries and reached as far as Greece and Rome. This is considered as the beginning of the silk roads where the routes were continuously extended to other cities and the essential infrastructure was being built to continue the trading of goods. The Silk Road was closed during the “fall of the Roman Empire” but was opened again around the 13th century. 

The roads that started from the ancient city of Susa which was the capital of Persia and extended to the Aegean Sea was known as the “Persian Royal Road”. The other major routes of the route were named such as the “Darb Zubayda”. It was used for the religious purpose of the pilgrims and it ran from Kufa to Mecca. Few significant roads were closed as the empire was divided into smaller states. During the 13th century, the Mongols captured most of Asia and were successful in eliminating the smaller states. They reopened the silk routes and it reached its highest form in the Yuan dynasty. 

Importance of Silk Road

Silk was one of the most traded goods silk routes. China produced higher quality silk in Asia and major parts of Europe. The product was of high quality and the process of production was difficult. As a result, it was successful in generating high prices. The roman community had a high preference for Chinese silk which traded valuable goods to acquire a good quantity of silk during the rule of Marcus Aurelius. Other than silk, the route was used for trading various fabrics like wool, cotton, and other products such as tea, ivory, and other precious metals. It was also used in the transportation of slaves, gunpowder, gems, and horses. 

Silk, gunpowder, and gems were traded from East to west. On the other hand, the trading of slaves and horses is transported from west to east. The short distances had made it easier for the people to make their living as the merchants of silk routes and the prices of the goods increased as they made their way through Asia to Europe. Some cities were the trading hub as a number of trading routes met in those areas. Small inns were generally established beside the roads of silk routes to provide the basic needs of the traveling merchants.

Silk Road trading

Goods traded from west to east

• Glassware

• Camels

• Armor and weapons

• Riding tack and saddles

• Precious metals like gold, silver

• Grapes and grapevines

• Textiles 

• Domestic and exotic animals 

• Fruits

• Honey

• Skin and fur of the animals

• Rugs, carpets, and woolen blankets

Goods traded from east to west

• Porcelain

• Tea

• China (plates, vases, cups, bowls)

• Silk

• Paper

• Rice

• Dyes

• Perfumes

• Precious stones

• Gold and bronze artifacts

• Spices such as ginger, cinnamon

• Gunpowder

• Medicine

The silk routes were used for trading until 1453 CE when the “Ottoman Empire” banned the trading of goods with the west and closed the routes. At that time, the markets of Europe had a significant demand for the products of the east, and the merchants needed to find new roads to acquire those products to meet the requirements of the market. This has initiated the “Age of Discovery”. During this period, merchants of Europe were exploring various routes by the sea that could replace the land routes. The European traders captured several lands in the name of their country and gods. It had resulted in the introduction of new culture and tradition. 

Conclusion

During the rule of Empire Tiberius, the trading of silk had become a significant issue. Silk which was produced in China was considered a luxurious fabric and became a necessity among the Roman people. In order to meet the requirements and to extend their supply longer, the merchants rewove the material into a thinner and nearly transparent material. As a result, the use of silk was prohibited for a period of time and it lasted only for a minimal time period.