Major Routes of the Ancient Silk Road

Subject : History

Question: 

Major Routes of the Ancient Silk Road:

EUROPE:

– glass
– wool
– olive oil
– silver

CENTRAL ASIA:

– silk fabric
– bronze
– jade
– horses

What two main types of routes made up the Silk Road?

Expert Verified Solution:

The Silk Road was comprised of two main types of routes:

Overland Routes: These routes connected Europe to Central Asia and further into China. They traversed various terrains including deserts, mountains, and steppes. Key overland routes included the Northern Route and the Southern Route.

Maritime Routes: Also known as the Maritime Silk Road, these sea routes connected ports in China with those in Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, and the eastern coast of Africa. They facilitated the exchange of goods across the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea.

These two types of routes allowed for the extensive exchange of goods, culture, and ideas between the East and the West.