What is the Silk Road?

The term Silk Road was first used by the geographer Ferdinand von Richthofen and refers to the ancient network of caravan routes that connected Europe and Asia. This route enabled the trade of goods, the exchange of knowledge, and diplomatic contact between various countries. A wide variety of peoples and individuals, including merchants, the army, and scholars, traveled along the Silk Road. Religious and scientific ideas were thus transferred from East to West or vice versa.

Before this was possible, significant changes had to occur at the political level. Trade could only flourish after the full opening of the East. China’s expansion toward the West and the takeover of control over Central Asia by the Han Empire under Emperor Wudi (141–87 BC) led to the beginning of a glorious era. However, it did not take long before the trade route was endangered again. Conflicts between the Romans and the Parthians, a people from Western and Central Asia with a North-West Iranian language, caused uncertainty. Only through a diplomatic agreement between both parties could the Silk Road be used again.

Additionally, what many do not know is that different goods were transported in each direction. In a westerly direction, trade consisted mainly of silk, while toward the East, it was predominantly wool, silver, and gold.

Nevertheless, silk was the most extraordinary good traded and therefore gave the route its name. In the West, the supply of silk was very limited, which is why it was one of the most coveted luxury items of that time.

The starting point for the 6,400-kilometer-long route was Xi’an and ran along the Great Wall of China toward the northwest. It crossed the Taklamakan Desert, overcame the Pamir Mountains, and reached the Levant on the way through Afghanistan. People traveled along the Silk Road on foot or with camels and then shipped the goods across the Mediterranean using merchant ships. Due to the staggered transport from one trader to another, the route rarely had to be completed by one person entirely alone.

The most significant era of this trade network was reached between 115 BC and the 13th century AD. With the decline of the Roman Empire in Asia and the rise of Arabia, the Silk Road became unsafe. This led to the road no longer being traveled. However, the Mongols restored the route in the 14th century and promoted trade between Europe and the East. In this way, the road was also used by Marco Polo, among others, to travel to China and pursue his business.

Increased maritime trade, the emergence of new markets, and high customs costs led to the final decline of the old Silk Road. Transport by sea reduced the dangers of a long journey and the fees paid to various intermediaries. Due to worldwide expansion and globalization, the Silk Road lost almost all its significance. Nevertheless, certain sections of the road still exist and serve as inspiration for today’s long-distance highways.

A new route similar to the Silk Road is increasingly being expanded today. In this project of the century, a sea route is specifically intended to connect South Asia and Africa toward the Mediterranean. In addition, a land route will lead through Central Asia. The 68 countries involved will also be subsidized with economic aid and investments and are intended to network more closely with one another. China is thus planning a new global route intended to boost the global economy.

Author: Melis Karaali