Decline of the Silk Road
Several factors that developed over the ages can be attributed for the Silk Road’s decline:
- Trade shifted away from the overland Silk Road due to the development of more effective maritime trade routes.
- Trade has been restricted by periods of political unrest, invasions, and battles along the Silk Road routes.
- When compared to overland routes, marine trade is now more practicable and economical due to new transportation technology like huge cargo ships. This change reduced reliance on Silk Road routes.
- The importance of the overland routes was also decreasing as major civilizations like the Roman and Persian civilizations, which were crucial to the Silk Road trade, fell apart.
- Epidemics, such as the famous Black Death, had an impact on communities along the Silk Road, which resulted in a fall in population centers and economic activity.
Silk Road – Map, History & Facts
The Silk Road was a network of commercial routes that linked the East and West from the second century BCE until the mid-15th century. The Roman Empire and China, as well as subsequent medieval European countries, traded heavily along the Silk Road. The Silk Road united the continents of Europe, Africa, and Asia via limnic, marine, and overland routes. It got its name from the Chinese silk that traders carried via the trade routes. The East and West’s exchanges in the areas of politics, religion, culture, and economy were greatly helped by the Silk Road. Along the Silk Road, goods including grapes, saddles, and riding equipment were traded back and forth.
In this article, we will look into the history, major trade routes, trade and cultural exchange, decline, and commemoration of the Silk Road. We will also discuss the Silk Road Economic Belt and the map of the Silk Road.
Table of Content
- Silk Road Definition
- History of Silk Road
- Silk Road Map
- Major Trade Routes of the Silk Road
- Trade Along the Silk Road
- Cultural Exchange Along the Silk Road
- Decline of the Silk Road
- Commemoration of the Silk Road
- The Silk Road Economic Belt