The Silk Road was the world's first international highway that connected the two most powerful empires' China and the Roman Empire. Before the findings of silk, there was a lot of trade going on in China and Central Asia. The Silk Road expanded and was promoted by the Han Dynasty, they ruled from 206 BC to 220 AD. The Mongols governed a lot of the trade route, not allowing the Chinese Merchants to travel harmlessly. The trade route covered China through India, Asia Minor, through Mesopotamia, to the African Continent, Egypt, Britain, and Greece. The Mesopotamian area had become China's strongest relationship in trade, starting very important cultural exchanges. The merchandise that was carried on the Silk Road was basically sold from the East and bought in the West.
The Silk Road was primarily used for exporting goods such as silk, porcelain, salt, and sugar. Merchants also imported good like ivory, gold, silver, and cotton. Many people could not afford silk, but a lot devoted their lives to producing silk. It's lightweight, has a gigantic demand, high price, and compactness it was amazing for trade and long-distance transportation. It was so unique that the Romans could only afford to sew a small piece on to their togas. Chinese had invented paper during the Han dynasty, and gunpowder had a larger impact on culture than silk. The most important exchange of the Silk Road was transfer of culture. Philosophy, religion, technology, language, architecture, and science were exchanged through the expansion of the Silk Road. Buddhism grew throughout the route; it migrated to China and Japan becoming the dominant religion. Gunpowder made its way from China to Middle East forging the future of the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mongol Empires. From Central Asia and the East Mediterranean rugs, blankets, carpets, curtains were exported to China. Parthian tapestries and carpets were at high demand in China.
