The Silk Roads were one of the largest factors in helping countries develop and trade during classical times. People had always traded long distance, to get spice from forign countries, food supplies etc. But it was not safe, societies would guard their own land but there were large dangerous gaps imbetween so it it was often unsafe to do long distance trade. The silk roads changed that, they were a safe, effective way of getting to places far away. This helped ancient societies grow and expand economicly. The silk roads also increased the size of classical empires by allowing armies easy access to surronding areas.
![Picture](/uploads/2/3/3/4/23348238/9095291.jpg)
Famous Traveler Gang Ying
-A Chinese ambassador whom embarked on a mission to establish trade relationships with Rome directly
- He proceeded as far as Mesopotamia before returning home from the dangerous journey.
-Although he failed the mission, he brought detailed and reliable information about the Central Asia
-Historically, he was the only Chinese who went the furthest west during antiquity and gathered as many information he could.
-A Chinese ambassador whom embarked on a mission to establish trade relationships with Rome directly
- He proceeded as far as Mesopotamia before returning home from the dangerous journey.
-Although he failed the mission, he brought detailed and reliable information about the Central Asia
-Historically, he was the only Chinese who went the furthest west during antiquity and gathered as many information he could.
Variety of manufactured/agricultural products were traveled over the silk roads.
- Silk and spices traveled west from producers in southeast Asia, China, and India, to consumers in central Asia. Spices were important commodities in classical era because they use the spices for food taste, preservation, and medical uses.
- However, silk mostly came from China; the only land with highly developed techniques for high-quality silk fabrics.
- The fine spices (cloves, nutmeg, mace, and cardamom) all came from southeast Asia
- Ginger and cinnamon came from China and southeast Asia
- Sesame oil from India, Arabia, and southwest Asia.
- India also exported cotton textiles and exotic items such as pearls, coral, and ivory.
- Western lands exchanged large, strong horses, and jade for the silks and spices
- Roman empire came glassware, jewelry, works of art, decorative items, perfumes, bronze goods, wool, textiles, pottery etc.
- Mediterranean merchants imported raw gemstones to later exchange as expensive jewelry and decorative items.