Introduction to Silk Road

Silk Road

The Silk Road is an interconnected series of ancient trade routes linking Xi’an with Asia Minor and the Mediterranean. It was the information super highway of its age, playing an important role in the exchange of goods and the transmission of knowledge and ideas between the East and the West. It extends over 8000 km on land and sea and was originated in the 2nd Century B.C. from a desire for military and political purposes instead of for trade.

The Egyptians followed by the Romans purchased Silk from the Chinese and it began to be used by the Westerners in 753 B.C. The most important point of convergence was Kashgar. The Silk Road was named in the middle of the 19th century by the German Scholar, Baron Ferdinand. It helped to lay the foundations for the modern world.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silk_Road

http://www.allaboutturkey.com/silkroad.htm

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/silk-road/history/