In the previous section, you learned how the Ancient Romans conducted trade with other nations. Now, you will examine how trade was expanded even further on The Silk Road.

The historical Silk Road is a series of land and sea trade routes that crisscrossed Eurasia from the first millennium BC. through the middle of the second millennium AD. The intersections among people from diverse cultures along the way promoted an unprecedented sharing of commodities, ideas, arts, sciences and innovations.

It was called the Silk Road because the silk from China was the most valued good that was sold along the trade route.

Click on the link below to learn more about the Silk Road in this video:

China Revealed: Silk Road

After you watch the video, examine the map below. Notice how the geography of a region determines the commodities that are traded in that region.

Click below to display the Silk Road, major cities, and the commodities (goods) that were traded.

Visit the Silk Road timeline to see how trade occurred over time: The Silk Road

In addition to commodities, traders along the Silk Road also brought their customs, culture, and religion with them. Listen to the stories that were "traded" along the Silk Road here:

Examine the maps of the Silk Road using the link below. Answer the questions that follow in your notes.

Maps of the Silk Road

1. Name the present-day countries that once had stops along the historic Silk Road.
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   Check Your Answer

   China, Kazakhstan, India, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan
2. Examine the Principal Belief Systems map; do you believe that religious differences impacted how people traded along the Silk Road? Explain your answer using information from the Silk Road Maps.
3. Examine the Languages map and compare it to the Trading Routes map. There appear to be several different languages spoken along the Silk Road. How do you think traders and buyers were able to communicate effectively? Explain your answer using information from the Silk Road Maps.