• Series of trading and cultural towns and passageways connecting Asia to Europe
• It was profitable for its trade of Silk
• The towns and villages along its route became wealthy and many thrived as centers of cultural exchange
• The Chinese wanted to protect their trade and extended the great wall to protect the silk route
• It was dangerous to trade along the silk route due to its geography and the fact that it could take months to reach a destinations (goods were carried on animal backs) and also thieves could attack you during your journey
• The silk route had a major impact on the development of civilizations in Asia and Europe
• A wide variety of goods were traded on the silk route
• Ideas were shared, new
  • Technologies
  • Medicines
  • Ideas
  • Philosophies
  • Religions
    • Different religions like
      • Judaism
      • Christianism
      • Islam
    • These religions spread all throughout Asia and Europe in part due to the silk road
• Silk was a commonly used currency and it even became a religious symbol
• The silk road fostered many cultural exchanges
  • Promoted understanding between people
  • Increased cooperation
• However, these paths were a means to spread disease from region to region
  • Some historians believe that the silk road was the path that the black death followed and later infected Europe and Asia