Silk Road Caravan
Purveyors  of  Commerce  & Culture

 


 
History of the Silk Road
  The Silk Road was the the name of a series of trade routes that connected the great empires of ancient western and eastern civilizations.   The earliest of the routes began around 100 BC, eventually extending more than four thousand miles from China to the Fertile Crescent and indirectly to Rome.  Although the rich silks of China were certainly a prized commodity, the exotic spices found in India were arguably the items in the highest demand.  Salt, pepper and other spices were highly regarded as preservatives in the days before refrigeration was available.  They also served as effective flavor enhancements and medicines.  Merchants eagerly scoured the many local bazaars or marketplaces that were dotted along the Silk Road looking for unique and wondrous items that would entice their patrons.  Yet, the  Silk Road was much more than a crossroads of exotic merchandise, it was also a medium of culture and religions as fantastic tales of what they had seen and heard were shared by adventurers upon their returns home. 
 Travel on this route took at least three or four months since camels could complete only  20 to 30 miles a day. Despite the  promises of reward and adventure offered on the Silk Road, travelers faced many obstacles throughout their journeys.  The route was characterized by hazardous physical conditions confronted in the snowy mountain passes, blistering deserts, and scorching sandstorms.       Raiding parties of bandits known as marauders laid in wait for merchants laden with silks, linens, spices, jewels, porcelains and gold.  Thus, entrepreneurs were forced to put aside desires to best rival merchants and begrudgingly formed large groups of fifty or more to discourage robbers from attacking.   Wealthier  merchants even hired bodyguards to defend their lives and property. 
  Fervent prayers were made by   Buddhists, Christians, Muslims, Jews, and others for deliverance from the harshness of the elements, and from brutal attacks by bandits and evil spirits that plagued the caravans.  The great risks encountered on the Silk Road caused many traders to refuse to venture beyond the bazaars  found in famed oasis towns in search of more obscure items.   Famed explorer, Marco Polo, even traveled the Silk Road on his way to China.  By the end of the fifteenth century, the Silk Road's economic and geographic importance began to decline due to discovery of more expedient water routes via the Caspian Sea.
Join the Caravan
Imagine you have traveled back in time to join ancient merchants on a journey to purchase treasures from  exotic lands.   The pungent fragrance of ginger, cinnamon, and animals permeate the air as you step into the local bazaar for a shopping expedition.
Beware, this mission is not for the faint of heart, as this travel route extends over four thousand miles and  links the empires of Rome, Persia, India, and China.  You are advised to consider the geography of these regions in order to avoid the treacherous physical obstacles you will encounter ahead.
Many adventures await you as your caravan makes its way along the famed Silk Road.  Unspeakable riches await you at your journey's end!

Join 
the
Caravan

History 
of 
Pasta

Camel Trivia

Marco Polo
In-depth 
History
of
the 
Silk Road

View 1991
Silk Road 
Electronic 
Travel 
Diary

Following in Ancient Footsteps
Silk Road Geographic Descriptions
&
Travel Reservations

NASA helps search 
for lost cities
of the 
Silk Road

Satellite
View
of 
Silk Road

Lesson Plan
& 
Resources
The Silk Road Today
CNN Featured Story

Terrain 
Climate
Religion
on the
Trade Route
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