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It connected China to the Middle East, Europe, and North Africa.

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Commodities such as spices, horses, wool, and weapons were traded through the Silk Road.

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Since wealth was spreading, towns and cities expanded drastically.

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Religion, culture, and ideas such as Buddhism and Islam also spread through trade.

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Cultural exchange took place in certain cities, also called trading hubs.

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Technologies having to do with science and art were shared between cities.

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Silk was considered a valuable and popular product which is why even some people were sentenced dealth for revealing its production.

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When maritime trade established, coastal cities grew wealthy.

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Merchant caravans were used not only to transport commodites but were used for protection by merchants since robberies were common

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Camel and camel saddles also helped trade become more efficent and effective

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The Silk Road wasn't one route that they traveled through but was a network of routes

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Marco Polo, a merchant that traveled the Silk Road, wrote about his 3 year journey to China which made him and the Silk Road famous.

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The Trans- Saharan Road interferes with the Sahara, the largest desert in the world

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It streches from the Nile River all the way to the Atlantic Ocean

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There were only a few areas with fresh water and food as well as waves of salt in all directions, making living there very hard.

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Trading across the Sahara was hard, so many people used caravans and camels for transportation.

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After Arab conquest, trading across the Sahara gave access to West Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Indian Ocean.

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Since traveling across the Sahara was difficult, only merchants with valuable commodities would go to trade.

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Since there was a risk to goods as well as getting stuck becuase of storms or strong winds, most successful merchants traveled with guides.

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Camels and camel saddles were a big part of success of the Trans-Saharan routes because of how they adapted to their environment. Their legs are suited for sand and they were able to go up to 10 days without water.

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Robberies were common since some Pastoralists would attack undefended caravans while acting as a trading partner or even guide.

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The most popular commodities that were traded were gold and salt. There were many salt mines which led to the purchase of gold.

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After Islamic empires invaded and more Africans converted to Islam, trade on the Sahara increased.

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In additon to commodities spreading, Islam also spread through trade.

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Cities grew, ideas and cultures spread, and trade increased, causing empires in West Africa to enter the golden age.