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The Silk Road wasn't a road made of silk, but an important trade route that connected the ancient world. The route stretched for thousands of miles, linking Asia with Europe. Traders and travelers began using the Silk Road more than 2,000 years ago. It remained in use until the late Middle Ages.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc./Kenny Chmielewski

So why was this famous route called the Silk Road? Because silk was such a valuable product in ancient times, the route along which it was transported came to be known by that name. Silk came westward to Europe. Other prized goods went east to China. The Silk Road also had branches that connected with routes in India.

The Silk Road was much more than a bustling trade route, however. Ideas as well as goods were carried over the route. People from different cultures met, shared their knowledge and traditions, and learned about one another.

Read on to hear more about the Silk Road and its fascinating history! In this article, you'll learn about:

The origins of the Silk Road

The vast territory covered by the Silk Road and its western connections

The famous adventurer Marco Polo and his journey along the road

Why use of the Silk Road declined

How the Silk Road helped shape the world we know today

Before the era of modern transportation, traders and other people journeyed together in groups called caravans when crossing deserts or other hostile regions. This was to help ensure their safety. Camels were often used by these groups to carry heavy loads. Beginning in the 2nd century bc, caravans traveled the path of the Silk Road. Trade began to flourish along the route. Eventually, China developed trade relations with the Roman Empire by using the Silk Road.

The easternmost edge of the Silk Road began at Xi'an, China, in the east-central portion of the country. The 4,000-mile (6,400-kilometer) road crossed mountains and deserts before reaching the Mediterranean Sea in the West. The main route basically followed the Great Wall of China into the area of northwestern China. It then bypassed the Takla Makan Desert, climbed the Pamir Mountains, and crossed Afghanistan. The route continued west through the modern-day countries of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. The merchandise being transported could then be shipped across the Mediterranean Sea to Rome. At the height of the Silk Road trade in ad 200, this route and its western connections over Roman lands made up the longest road on Earth.

Caravans transported goods between many towns and trading centers along the Silk Road. Few people traveled the entire route, however. Instead, goods were carried in stages by different groups. After traders transported their goods along part of the route, they passed the merchandise on to others for the next leg of the journey.

Besides fine Chinese silk, what other items did these ancient traders carry? Here are just a few examples:

Tea, porcelain, spices, and precious stones were among the valuable goods sent to Europe from Asia.

Wool, gold, silver, and glassware were some of the items carried east along the route.

The Silk Road also served as an important means of cultural exchange. As people from different cultures and places met during their journey, they shared their various traditions, customs, and beliefs. For example, several major religions spread by way of the Silk Road. By the beginning of the 1st century ad Buddhism had followed the route from India into Central Asia and China. Later, Christianity and Islam expanded westward along the Silk Road from the Middle East.

Roman control of territory in Asia and the Mediterranean area gradually decreased. As this occurred, travel on the Silk Road became less safe, and traffic declined. The Mongol Empire revived the route for a while, in the 13th and 14th centuries. During that time the Italian merchant and adventurer Marco Polo used the Silk Road to travel to Cathay (northern China). Polo would spend many years in China and write a book about his experiences. His book helped Europeans learn about Asian peoples and goods.

In part because of Polo's accounts of the riches of Asia, Europeans became eager to find sea routes to the East. The search for new trade routes led to a major period of exploration throughout the world. Sea routes to Asia were discovered as a safer and faster means of trade than the overland route. In the 1400s the Silk Road fell into disuse.

Although the days of the Silk Road are long past, its influence can still be seen. Many modern-day cities trace their history back to the Silk Road. A number of towns or stops along the old route developed into major urban centers with diverse cultures and populations.

Many efforts have been made to preserve what remains of the Silk Road. For example, certain areas and structures along the route have been declared UNESCO World Heritage sites. Such sites are special places that have been set aside to be protected.

In recent years the United Nations has made plans for a highway system and railroad across Asia. The Silk Road served as the inspiration for these projects. The road also inspired famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma to start an arts organization known as Silkroad. The organization explores cultural traditions along the route and helps artists from around the world to meet and work together.

For articles related to the Silk Road, check out the following!

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The Silk Road wasn't a road made of silk, but an important trade route that connected the ancient world. The route stretched for thousands of miles, linking Asia with Europe....

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The Silk Road and Ancient Trade: Crash Course World History #9

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Kids learn about the Silk Road trade route from Ancient China to Europe. Goods such as silk, porcelain, and salt make China rich.

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The Silk Road Facts for Kids - History for Kids

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When China opened trade with the West in 130 B.C., people started trading goods on the Silk Road. Click for more facts about the Silk Road!

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Image

Photograph by Mekdet

The Silk Road is neither an actual road nor a single route. The term instead refers to a network of routes used by traders for more than 1,500 years, from when the Han dynasty of China opened trade in 130 B.C.E. until 1453 C.E., when the Ottoman Empire closed off trade with the West. German geographer and traveler Ferdinand von Richthofen first used the term "silk road" in 1877 C.E. to describe the well-traveled pathway of goods between Europe and East Asia. The term also serves as a metaphor for the exchange of goods and ideas between diverse cultures. Although the trade network is commonly referred to as the Silk Road, some historians favor the term Silk Routes because it better reflects the many paths taken by traders.

The Silk Road extended approximately 6,437 kilometers (4,000 miles) across some of the world's most formidable landscapes, including the Gobi Desert and the Pamir Mountains. With no one government to provide upkeep, the roads were typically in poor condition. Robbers were common. To protect themselves, traders joined together in caravans with camels or other pack animals. Over time, large inns called caravanseraiscropped up to house travelling merchants. Few people traveled the entire route, giving rise to a host of middlemen and trading posts along the way.

An abundance of goods traveled along the Silk Road. Merchants carried silk from China to Europe, where it dressed royalty and wealthy patrons. Other favorite commodities from Asia included jade and other precious stones, porcelain, tea, and spices. In exchange, horses, glassware, textiles, and manufactured goods traveled eastward.

One of the most famous travelers of the Silk Road was Marco Polo (1254 C.E. -1324 C.E.). Born into a family of wealthy merchants in Venice, Italy, Marco traveled with his father to China (then Cathay) when he was just 17 years of age. They traveled for over three years before arriving at Kublai Khan's palace at Xanadu in 1275 C.E. Marco stayed on at Khan's court and was sent on missions to parts of Asia never before visited by Europeans. Upon his return, Marco Polo wrote about his adventures, making him-and the routes he traveled-famous.

It is hard to overstate the importance of the Silk Road on history. Religion and ideas spread along the Silk Road just as fluidly as goods. Towns along the route grew into multicultural cities. The exchange of information gave rise to new technologies and innovations that would change the world. The horses introduced to China contributed to the might of the Mongol Empire, while gunpowder from China changed the very nature of war in Europe and beyond. Diseases also traveled along the Silk Road. Some research suggests that the Black Death, which devastated Europe in the late 1340s C.E., likely spread from Asia along the Silk Road. The Age of Exploration gave rise to faster routes between the East and West, but parts of the Silk Road continued to be critical pathways among varied cultures. Today, parts of the Silk Road are listed on UNESCO's World Heritage List.

National Geographic Society

October 19, 2023

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For more than 1,500 years, the network of routes known as the Silk Road contributed to the exchange of goods and ideas among diverse cultures.

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The triangular trade was the three-legged route that made up the Atlantic slave trade. The trade traffic flowed to and from three general areas on either side of the Atlantic...

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For more than 2,000 years, people have enslaved other people. They took away their freedom and made them work for them.

In West Africa and West-Central Africa, Europeans took millions of people against their will to Europe and the Americas between 1500-1900.

The "triangular trade" means a three-stage trade where Europeans traded their goods in Africa for slaves. The slaves were brought back to America, and sugar, tobacco, and other products were brought back to Europe.

The triangular slave trade was the most massive and concentrated mass deportation of people in history, taking place over more than four centuries. Keep reading to learn more Triangular Slave Trade facts.

We recognize today that slavery and the slave trade, including the triangular slave trade, were horrendous catastrophes in humanity's history not just for their cruelty but also because of their scale, organization, and especially because they denied the victims' essence.

To refer to the Africans who were enslaved simply as "slaves" disregards their individuality. They farmed, traded, served in the clergy, fought in wars, worked with gold, and performed music. They were married couples, fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, among others. They might be Yoruba, Igbo, Akan, or Kongolese.

Slave Trade Begins

The slave trade began when Portuguese and Spanish explorers kidnapped Africans from African tribes they had conquered in the 15th century. Approximately 350,000 Africans were transported to the Americas as slaves in this manner.

In the 16th century, pirates from England started selling slaves to Spanish colonies. Sir John Hawkins was the first Englishman to sell slaves in these colonies. Other nations soon joined in, and they sold slaves too.

Triangular Slave Trade: The Treaty of Utrecht

In 1713, the Treaty of Utrecht was signed. Spain agreed to give British slave traders a contract called the Asiento. This contract allowed the traders to sell 144,000 slaves a year to Spanish South America. After 1700, more and more people were transported as slaves.

A third of the African slaves sailed on British vessels. It's been estimated that around 12 million Africans were captured and sent to the Americas as slaves over several centuries. Until 1807, when slavery was ended in the United Kingdom, British trading ships exchanged goods for humans throughout western Africa.

The First Part of the Triangular Trade

A British ship set sail from Britain with trade goods. The traders were going to go to West Africa.

Between 13 and 15 million people were taken from their homes to the Americas, primarily from West Africa. The continent's largest population transfers took place on its shores: East Africa, Mozambique, and Madagascar supplied slave labor to Europe. The term "Slave Coast" was coined for this region.

European slave traders couldn't capture an entire African kingdom by themselves. The terrain was too challenging, and with most native tribes being quite powerful, they would have had difficulty capturing any slaves on their own accord.

Most of these slaves were sold on through trade with neighboring tribes or villages. Many bought their freedom after purchase as well. When African states began trading their slaves for goods, they became more powerful and fought wars against neighboring tribes.

Europeans set up permanent trading camps on the West African coast. They would collect slaves to sell to passing ships. These places became known as "slave factories."

British factories had the job of buying slaves from African chiefs. They would go to a village and buy slaves from the people who had captured people from another village. The slaves were held in prisons called factories on their way to the coast.

The British captured the Cape Coast Castle in Ghana. It had underground dungeons for up to up to 1,000 slaves that were waiting to be taken away.

A surgeon examined the African people who arrived at the factory. Those who were judged to be healthy and strong were bought by the company that owns the factory. To prevent African merchants from switching purchased slaves for unfit ones, they were branded on the chest with a hot iron to reveal their status.

The British traded slaves for goods. The British chained the slaves together and put them on a boat. A slave cost around $3 of traded goods in 1700 (cloth, guns, gunpowder, and brandy).

The goods used to buy slaves included:

Portugal mounted the most slaving operations and deported more than 5.5 million people. The Portuguese colony of Angola, in Africa, was the place where most people were brought to be slaves. The colony of Brazil was the destination for 40% of the slaves from Africa.

When Europeans stopped trading slaves, merchants in America built on their own long experience to keep the trade going.

The Second Part of the Triangular Trade

The slave ship sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to the West Indies. The voyage from Africa to the New World was called the Middle Passage. Slave ships took around six to eleven weeks to get there. The slaves were sold at auction there.

It was expected that a few Africans would perish during the passage while a large number would survive. A ship's hold was tiny - only five feet high, and there was a shelf around the edge to carry even more slaves.

The people were loaded very closely together. One captain said they were like books on a shelf.

The conditions were inhuman. They were not able to go to the toilet. They had to lie in their filth. Sickness spread quickly. If someone died, they could lay there for hours while still chained to other living slaves.

The European crew was carrying food that slaves could not digest. Many slaves died because they were too sick. Slaves who got ill were sometimes not given food and left to die.

Slaves were forced to dance on deck for an hour a day. The crew would punish people who did not want to dance. Others threw themselves into the sea rather than enduring any more. It is estimated that 15% of slaves died on the Middle Passage.

For every captive that arrived alive in the Caribbean and America, historians estimate that five others died before they got there. This is because some people died while they were captured or on their way to the coast. And while some people survived the Middle Passage, many of them still died in the transatlantic journey.

In 1700, a slave in the West Indies was worth £20. This meant there was a nice return on investment, making the dangers worthwhile.

The Zong Massacre

The Zong was a slave ship that had a lot of slaves on it. The ship went across the Atlantic Ocean, but it missed its destination in the Caribbean and had to stay at sea for three more weeks. There was not enough water to drink, and people who were sick got even sicker.

About 131 African captives were thrown overboard and died because the crew could not get money for them if they died on the ship.

The crew members were tried in 1783. The case was not about murder but about insurance. The case was important because it symbolized the horrors of slavery and made people want to end slavery even more.

The Third Part of the Triangular Trade

Once the ship made it to the Caribbean, slaves would be sold at auction. They were examined to make sure they looked healthy.

People rubbed them with oil, so they looked healthier. And when the slaves did not obey, their backs got whipped. So they would put tar on their back wounds so you could not see them. Older slaves also had their heads shaved, so they did not have any grey hair, making them look younger.

Different factors determined the price of slaves. This included the condition of captives upon landing, where they were taken, and how many other ships there were in port at that time for sale.

The first way to sell a slave was through an auction. The slaves would be individually or in groups. They were bought at that point by whoever bid higher on them.

Another option was scrambling, where all of those who had been captured during wartime came together into one enclosure with only their captor paying upfront before anything happened between them. This often didn't include women because most weren't able-bodied enough to do physical labor like fieldwork.

Slaves left behind were called 'refuse.' They were often considered nothing more than an expense and would be sold cheaply to anyone who could afford them - leading many of those unfortunate souls on a quick death sentence from starvation or disease within months afterward.

Slaves who tried to resist or fight back faced the risk of being sent to 'seasoning camps.' It was estimated that up 50 percent died in these training centers for slaves, which were more like concentration camps than anything else.

The British ports that took part in the slave trade made a lot of money. Some ships were filled with sugar and rum to be sold in Britain.

Many other cities became rich because of industries that depended on materials made by slaves. These cities sent out many ships each year, and they made a lot of people in those cities wealthy by selling tobacco, cotton, and other materials. Some of those ports were Bristol, Liverpool, and Glasgow.

The Port of Liverpool

During the 18th century, Liverpool made about half a million pounds. The other British slave-trading ports together made about the same amount again.

Merchants in Liverpool traded other things, but they also traded slaves. Most of the citizens and merchants of Liverpool were involved in trading slaves. Many mayors were also involved.

The town made a lot of money because of its slave trade. It helped to make the city's docks even more profitable. That money also helped make trading and industry in the northwest of England and the Midlands region better.

The slave trade not only provided work for thousands but also fueled Liverpool's economic growth. The ships needed to be built and equipped; carpenters were in demand with their expertise in construction.

Ropemakers created new materials that would become important on shipboard, like hempen rigging ropes. Others found work with banking or insurance companies because Liverpool was prosperous at this time.

Consequences of the Triangular Slave Trade

Some historians think that the slave trade in Africa ruined it because of wars and the loss of many Africans. They also think that this is why European countries colonized Africa in the 19th century.

Some historians say that the slave trade made the ruling elite of African Kingdoms prosper. They wanted it to continue. When Britain stopped the slave trade in 1807, the King of Bonny wrote to Parliament and complained.

The Atlantic slave trade was one of the most important sources and expressions of racism, racial prejudice, xenophobia, and related hatred, as well as being a major cause of suffering for Africans and people of African descent, Asians, and people of Asian descent, and indigenous peoples.

Sources

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Triangular Slave Trade Facts and History - History for Kids

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For more than 2,000 years, people have enslaved other people. They took away their freedom and made them work for them. In West Africa and West-Central Africa, Europeans took millions of people against their will to Europe and the Americas between 1500-1900. The "triangular trade" means a three-stage trade where Europeans traded their goods in Africa for slaves.

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The Triangular Trade and the Middle Passage

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The triangle trade and the colonial table, sugar, tea, and slavery

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"In many ways, the history of globalisation is played out in the story of spices. From tightly controlled origins, the international spice trade unrolled along routes by land and sea to connect much of the world. Today, there is barely a country in the world where spices are not readily accessible.

"It's a really symbolic trade in the supply chain, because of the connections between different producing and consuming countries," says Touboulic. "It's also a symbol of cultural globalisation, because we now consider spices quite ordinary in the west, when we didn't use to. I can't imagine Britain going without curries."

The process was not always smooth, particularly in terms of its cultural impact. In its early days, the spice trade led to bloodshed and conflict, as well as bringing wealth. One hard-to-ignore legacy of the spice trade is colonialism, says Freedman. "The search for a direct route - i.e. no middlemen - to find the source of spices stimulated European voyages that turned into colonial conquests."

Turning to the future, the spice trade has many new hurdles to overcome. Adapting and becoming resilient to climate change is likely to be crucial, if the trade is to remain sustainable while keeping up with the ever-growing demand for spices. This will be no mean feat, as their uses in food, health and wellness continue to evolve.

Image credits: Lion TV, Getty Images

Graphics sources: Mariners Museum, Observatory of Economic Complexity
The world's trading routes have been crafted over centuries and yet remain in a constant state of flux. Made on Earth looks at eight everyday products - from bicycles to whisky, spices to semiconductors - and explores the people, countries and intricate global networks that go into making and bringing these goods to market.

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"In many ways, the history of globalisation is played out in the story of spices. From tightly controlled origins, the international spice trade unrolled along routes by land and sea to connect much of the world. Today, there is barely a country in the world where spices are not readily accessible.

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The Spice Routes, also known as Maritime Silk Roads, is the name given to the network of sea routes that link the East with the West. They stretch from the west coast of Japan, through the islands of Indonesia, around India to the lands of the Middle East - and from there, across the Mediterranean to Europe. It is a distance of over 15,000 kilometres and, even today, is not an easy journey. From our very earliest history, people have travelled the Spice Routes. At first, they probably ventured only short distances from their home ports but over the centuries their ships sailed further and further across seas and oceans. They braved treacherous seas and eventual hostile reception on arrival in an unknown land. These journeys were not undertaken purely in the spirit of adventure - the driving force behind them was trade. The Spice Routes were, and still are, first and foremost trade routes. Since ancient times, trade has had an important role in human life. When we buy something we are trading, exchanging one item (usually money) for another. However, our purchase is the final link in a long chain of buyers and sellers: from the supplier of raw materials, to the manufacturer, to the wholesaler, to the shop - and if the goods we buy come from abroad there may be several other stages in between.

The journey of the goods between all these links in the chain is what is called a trade route. In the case of the Spice Routes the links were formed by traders buying and selling goods from port to port. The principal and most profitable goods they traded in were spices - giving the routes their name. As early as 2000 BC, spices such as cinnamon from Sri Lanka and cassia from China found their way along the Spice Routes to the Middle East. Other goods were exchanged too - cargoes of ivory, silk, porcelain, metals and dazzling gemstones brought great profits to the traders who were prepared to risk the dangerous sea journeys. But precious goods were not the only points of exchange between the traders. Perhaps more important was the exchange of knowledge: knowledge of new peoples and their religions, languages, expertise, artistic and scientific skills. The ports along the Maritime Silk Roads (Spice Routes) acted as melting pots for ideas and information. With every ship that swept out with a cargo of valuables on board, fresh knowledge was carried over the seas to the ship's next port of call.

Today, it may seem strange that the demand for spices was the main reason for such large-scale trade across such long distances. One probably thinks of them simply as flavouring for food. Yet, the word "spice" comes from the Latin species, which means an item of special value, as compared to ordinary articles of trade. Travelling these long distances becomes understandable if one considers the fact that many of the important spices had ritual and medical values and could only grow in the tropical East, from South of China to Indonesia as well as southern India and Sri Lanka. In particular, they grew in the Moluccas or, as they are better known, the Spice Islands. These are a chain of mountainous islands strung out in the Pacific Ocean between Sulawesi (Celebes) and New Guinea. From here came the fragrant spices of cloves and nutmeg which grew nowhere else in the world. To reach the spice markets found across Asia and Europe, the spices had to be transported thousands of kilometres over the seas.

One may never discover how people came to know and value these spices which grew so far away. As trading links from Indonesia fanned out through south and central Asia, they met with links that spread from the Middle East and the north. Goods were exchanged and traders would return to their homeland carrying the beautifully scented, exotic spices. Perhaps it was their strangeness and rarity that led great medicinal and spiritual values to be attributed to them. From ancient times, spices were burned as incense in religious ceremonies, purifying the air and carrying the prayers of the people heavenward to their gods. They were also added to healing ointments and to potions drunk as antidotes to poisons. To hide the many household smells, people burned spices daily in their homes. They were used as cooking ingredients very early on - not only to add flavour but also to make the food, which was often far from fresh, palatable, particularly in hot climates.

Myths and legends were woven around these exotic substances. They were linked to strange beasts like the phoenix, giant eagles, serpents and dragons. In the Fifth Century BC, the Greek historian Herodotus wrote how the spice cassia grew in a lake "infested by winged creatures like bats, which screeched alarmingly and were very pugnacious". Some of these stories were probably created by the traders who, wishing to protect their profits, tried to hide the sources of the spices.

The profits to be made from spices were considerable. They were small and dried, and consequently could be transported easily. The wealth of the spice trade brought great power and influence and, over the centuries, bloody battles were fought to win control of it and the routes along which it took place.

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The Spice Routes, also known as Maritime Silk Roads, is the name given to the network of sea routes that link the East with the West. They stretch from the west coast of Japan, through the islands of Indonesia, around India to the lands of the Middle East - and from there, across the Mediterranean to Europe.

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The Spice Trade & the Age of Exploration

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One of the major motivating factors in the European Age of Exploration was the search for direct access to the highly lucrative Eastern spice trade. In the 15th century, spices came to Europe via the…

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From 1200 to 1450, an extensive trading network stretched across the Sahara Desert, linking the wealthy empires of West Africa to the Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean.

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Trans Saharan Trade | Definition, Routes & Effect - Video | Study.com

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Learn about the trans-Saharan trade network, its origins, and its development. Read about the effects of trans-Saharan trade and see examples of…

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The trade route began in the West African gold mines that were controlled by a series of empires over the span of 1,000 years, including the Kingdom of Ghana, the Mali Empire, and the Songhai Empire.

The routes then extended north through salt mining towns like Taghaza before reaching the Mediterranean coastal cities of North Africa, such as Tunis and Tripoli. From there, goods were traded into Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

In addition to gold and salt, a wide range of goods were transported along these trade routes. This includes ivory, spices, textiles, weapons, and enslaved people.

Gold was mined in West Africa and was highly valued across the world. Salt was a vital commodity that was used for preserving food.

Enslaved people were often captured in Sub-Saharan Africa and brought north and sold to Mediterranean and Middle Eastern civilizations. African rulers unable to resist the slave trade acted as middlemen, rounding up members of nearby villages to be sold to demanding merchants.

The Trans-Saharan Trade Route was instrumental in the development of the civilizations that participated in it. The trade route facilitated the exchange of ideas and cultures between the people of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

This led to the development of new technologies, art, and architecture. The trade route also facilitated the spread of Islam in West Africa, which had a significant impact on the region's religious and cultural practices.

The Kingdom of Ghana controlled the West African gold mines in the 6th century and became a major center of trade, exporting gold and ivory to North Africa and Europe in exchange for salt, textiles, and other goods.

The Mali Empire emerged in the 13th century and became one of the most prosperous civilizations along the route. One of its rulers, Mansa Musa, is considered the richest man in history due to his control of both the gold and salt mines in West Africa.

The Songhai Empire rose after the fall of the Mali Empire in the 15th century and expanded the trade routes even further.

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A definition and map of the Trans Saharan Trade Routes in World History, also known as the Gold Salt Trade, including the goods traded along the network.

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Illustration

by Aa77zz
published on 01 March 2019

A map indicating the major trans-Saharan trade routes across West Africa c. 1100-1500 CE. The darker yellow areas indicate gold fields.

License & Copyright

Based on Wikipedia content that has been reviewed, edited, and republished. Original image by Aa77zz. Uploaded by Mark Cartwright, published on 01 March 2019. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: Public Domain. This item is in the public domain, and can be used, copied, and modified without any restrictions. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.

Cite This Work

APA Style

Aa77zz, . (2019, March 01). Trans-Saharan Trade Routes. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/10148/trans-saharan-trade-routes/

Chicago Style

Aa77zz, . " Trans-Saharan Trade Routes." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified March 01, 2019. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/10148/trans-saharan-trade-routes/.

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A map indicating the major trans-Saharan trade routes across West Africa c. 1100-1500 CE. The darker yellow areas indicate gold fields.

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The TRANS-SAHARAN TRADE Network, Explained [AP World History Review—Unit 2 Topic 4]

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The Eastern Trade Network of Ancient Rome

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The life of wealthy Romans was filled with exotic luxuries such as cinnamon, myrrh, pepper, or silk acquired through long-distance international trade. Goods from the Far East arrived in Rome through…

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An introduction for primary pupils as to why and how the Romans built a network of roads in Britain.

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Roman road system, outstanding transportation network of the ancient Mediterranean world, extending from Britain to the Tigris-Euphrates river system and from the Danube River to Spain and northern Africa. In all, the Romans built 50,000 miles (80,000 km) of hard-surfaced highway, primarily for military reasons.

The first of the great Roman roads, the Via Appia ( Appian Way), begun by the censor Appius Claudius Caecus in 312 bce, originally ran southeast from Rome 162 miles (261 km) to Tarentum (now Taranto) and was later extended to the Adriatic coast at Brundisium (now Brindisi). The long branch running through Calabria to the Straits of Messina was known as the Via Popilia. By the beginning of the 2nd century bce, four other great roads radiated from Rome: the Via Aurelia, extending northwest to Genua (Genoa); the Via Flaminia, running north to the Adriatic, where it joined the Via Aemilia, crossed the Rubicon, and led northwest; the Via Valeria, east across the peninsula by way of Lake Fucinus (Conca del Fucino); and the Via Latina, running southeast and joining the Via Appia near Capua. Their numerous feeder roads extending far into the Roman provinces led to the proverb "All roads lead to Rome."

The Roman roads were notable for their straightness, solid foundations, cambered surfaces facilitating drainage, and use of concrete made from pozzolana (volcanic ash) and lime. Though adapting their technique to materials locally available, the Roman engineers followed basically the same principles in building abroad as they had in Italy. In 145 bce they began the Via Egnatia, an extension of the Via Appia beyond the Adriatic into Greece and Asia Minor, where it joined the ancient Persian Royal Road.

In northern Africa the Romans followed up their conquest of Carthage by building a road system that spanned the south shore of the Mediterranean. In Gaul they developed a system centred on Lyon, whence main roads extended to the Rhine, Bordeaux, and the English Channel. In Britain the purely strategic roads following the conquest were supplemented by a network radiating from London. In Spain, on the contrary, the topography of the country dictated a system of main roads around the periphery of the peninsula, with secondary roads developed into the central plateaus.

The Roman road system made possible Roman conquest and administration and later provided highways for the great migrations into the empire and a means for the diffusion of Christianity. Despite deterioration from neglect, it continued to serve Europe throughout the Middle Ages, and many fragments of the system survive today.

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Roman road system | Ancient Engineering, Construction & Maintenance

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Roman road system, outstanding transportation network of the ancient Mediterranean world, extending from Britain to the Tigris-Euphrates river system and from the Danube River to Spain and northern Africa. In all, the Romans built 50,000 miles (80,000 km) of hard-surfaced highway, primarily for

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All Roads lead to Rome: Roman Roads  - Ancient Rome Live

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Unlock the past with us as we delve into the rich history and importance of Roman Roads. Explore how they shape our world today.

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From 1200 to 1450, the Indian Ocean was the center of world trade. Merchants from all over Eurasia, including the world's largest empires, traded in this network.

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The INDIAN OCEAN TRADE Network, Explained [AP World History Review—Unit 2 Topic 3]

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Indian Ocean Trade Route: John Green video

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Indian Ocean Trade Route: John Green video

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Int'l Commerce, Snorkeling Camels, and The Indian Ocean Trade: Crash Course World History #18

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Indian Ocean Trade | Route, History & Impact - Video | Study.com

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Learn about the Indian Ocean trade route, its network and history. Discover how this trade route impacted world economics and trade relations among…

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Outstanding Universal Value
Brief synthesis
The Incense Route was a network of trade routes extending over two thousand kilometres to facilitate the transport of frankincense and myrrh from the Yemen and Oman in the Arabian Peninsula to the Mediterranean.

The four Nabatean towns of Haluza, Mamshit, Avdat and Shivta, with their associated fortresses and agricultural landscapes linking them to the Mediterranean are situated on a segment of this route, in the Negev Desert, in southern Israel. They stretch across a hundred-kilometre section of the desert, from Moa on the Jordanian border in the east to Haluza in the northwest. Together they reflect the hugely profitable trade in Frankincense from south Arabia to the Mediterranean, which flourished from the third century BCE until the second century CE, and the way the harsh desert was colonised for agriculture through the use of highly sophisticated irrigation systems.

Ten of the sites (four towns - Haluza, Mamshit, Avdat and Shivta; four fortresses - Kazra, Nekarot, Makhmal, and Grafon; and the two caravanserai of Moa and Saharonim) lie along, or near to, the main trade route from Petra, capital of the Nabatean Empire in Jordan, to the Mediterranean ports. The town of Mamshit straddles the northern parallel route. Combined, the route, and the desert cities along it, reflect the prosperity of the Nabatean incense trade over a seven hundred year period, from the 3rd century BCE to the 4nd century CE.

The towns were supported by extremely sophisticated systems of water collection and irrigation that allowed large-scale agriculture. These included dams, channelling, cisterns and reservoirs. Evidence of all these features is widespread around Avdat and central Negev, as are the remains of ancient field systems strung along riverbeds and hill slopes.

The property displays an all-embracing picture of Nabatean town planning and building technology over five centuries. The combination of towns, and their associated agricultural and pastoral landscapes, present a complete fossilized cultural environment.

The remains of the Nabatean desert settlements and agricultural landscapes presents a testimony to the economic power of frankincense in fostering a long desert supply- route from Arabia to the Mediterranean in Hellenistic-Roman times, which promoted the development of towns, forts and caravanserais to control and manage that route. They also display an extensive picture of Nabatean technology over five centuries in town planning and building and bear witness to the innovation and labour necessary to create an extensive and sustainable agricultural system in harsh desert conditions, reflected particularly in the sophisticated water conservation constructions.

Criterion (iii): The Nabatean towns and their trade routes bear eloquent testimony to the economic, social and cultural importance of frankincense to the Hellenistic-Roman world. The routes also provided a means of passage not only for frankincense and other trade goods but also for people and ideas.

Criterion (v): The almost fossilized remains of towns, forts, caravanserais and sophisticated agricultural systems strung out along the Incense Route in the Negev desert, display an outstanding response to a hostile desert environment and one that flourished for five centuries.
Integrity
The towns and forts combined with their trade routes and their agricultural hinterland, in all they provide a very complete picture of the Nabatean desert civilisation strung along a trade route. Remains of all the elements that comprised the settlements - towns, forts, caravanserais, and agricultural landscapes are within the boundaries. The limited development of the region has given the sites considerable protection from development. None of the attributes are under threat.
Authenticity
The remains of the towns, fortresses and caravanserais and landscapes mostly express well the outstanding universal value of the property as reflecting and exemplifying the prosperity of the Nabatean incense trade.

It is acknowledged that the cities of Mamshit and Haluza have previously been subjected to earlier interventions that threatened their authenticity. As part of the current management action, the inappropriate reconstructions in Mamshit, which were based on a scenographic intention rather than a scientific approach, were removed in 2005. And, excavations at Haluza, partly left without sufficient post-excavation consolidation, were backfilled during 2005 - 2006.
Protection and management requirements
All of the nominated property is State owned. It is protected by national legislation, with all the component parts either being within designated national parks or nature reserves.

The Israel Nature and Parks Authority manage the property on a daily basis, and the Israel Antiquities Authority manages the conservation and excavation activities on the designated structures.

All finance comes from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority budget, supported by site income, sales and government subsidy. The four towns each have specifically designated allocations. In low-income years, funds are spent only on maintenance and protection, with conservation subsequently taking place as external funding becomes available.

There is a need for a continuing comprehensive archaeological strategy for the whole property and also for each of the major towns to cover archaeological research, non-destructive recording and approaches to stabilization and repair.

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Incense Route - Desert Cities in the Negev

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Outstanding Universal Value Brief synthesis The Incense Route was a network of trade routes extending over two thousand kilometres to facilitate the transport of frankincense and myrrh from the Yemen and Oman in the Arabian Peninsula to the Mediterranean.

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For more than a thousand years the oasis city of Dadan, capital of the kingdoms of Dadan and Lihyan, and its successor, the Nabataean city of Hegra nearby, were linchpins of an extensive trading network that spanned continents.

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Exploring the Ancient Incense Route: Desert Cities in the Negev, Israel

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Explore the Ruins of an Ancient Incense Route

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Follow frankincense and myrrh on a historic journey through the desert

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What Was Traded In The Incense Trade Route?

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Incense was one of the most important goods that was traded in the Incense Trade Route.