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The Silk Road presented a vast network of trade routes connecting Eurasia and North Africa through land and sea routes. The Chinese silk, a valuable commodity transported by merchants in the trade networks, gained the Silk Road’s popularity. The Silk Road was synonymous with the movement of people, objects and ideas. The route facilitated significant insights between Syria and India, such as cultural exchange and trade. For example, Byzantine and Sasanian coins were popular during the 6th and 7th centuries and could be traced to Chinese tombs despite their widespread use in medieval Central Asia. Such shows that the most valued coins followed the Silk Road to find their way to East Asia aided by the trade merchants. However, the coins were pierced from the source and could be used as jewelry or attached to clothing. Such function indicated that the currencies had depreciated and could serve as exotic ornaments. In such regard, this essay examines why people from China and Syria traverse the overland Silk Road for more than 1500 years even though trade was marginal on the routes.
The growth of imperial power had a significant impact on trade between China and Western and Central Asia. For instance, the Punic Wars Victory allowed Rome to gain control of the Mediterranean shoreline. Roman Peace brought more trade with Han China marked by political stability enabling Rome to expand its overseas trade routes to North Africa and India. Traders on the Road Silk increased the relationship between Han and Roman empires despite the greater geographical distance. However, the long distance between the trading blocs compelled traders to look for alternative modes of transport. For instance, camels were useful in overland travels, and for that purpose, they were domesticated by the nomads of Central Asia in the 2nd millennium BCE. The use of camel transportation increased the viability of the Silk Road. Merchants also utilized sea transports and sailors who demonstrated a better understanding of the wind patterns for navigation.
Silk Road increased the availability of goods across the dense trade network. Silk remained the most marketable and highly demanded product since only the Chinese knew the secret of raising silkworms and creating fabric from them. Such consideration allowed for the continued traveling of people from diverse locations via the Silk Road. The softness and appealing shimmer of silk enabled it to emerge as a payment mode in Central Asia. However, Indian spices from East Indies, Roman glass beads, animal fur from the Caucasian savannah, and slaves worldwide also utilized this route. Sculptures of animals were often traded in China as part of the Chinese culture, making an impression by being placed on graves. The exchange of ideas and diseases along the sea lanes and camel routes was typical. For instance, a plague believed to have originated from China in the 2nd century disrupted the Roman Empire population killing about 10% of the population. The Chinese also benefited from different religions along the routes, such as Christianity, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, and Manichaeism.
Overall, silk remains one of the most precious but not the most traded commodities on the Silk Road. The movement of people and goods along the Silk Road benefited the Roman and Han empires. For instance, overland transportation promoted economic and political stability in the trading regions since people needed to exchange ideas and objects peacefully. Through the trading activities, new faith, diseases, and items were introduced to enhance growth. A better understanding of wind patterns was also improved among sailors for efficient sea transport.
Bibliography
Hansen, Valerie. The Silk Road: A New History. New York: Oxford University Press, 2015.
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