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I think that it should be called the Silk Road because China exported Silk to different places along the route and after all China did establish the route. Although some people might bring up the fact that many other resources were traded on the route, we can know that silk was one of the most important because of the great lengths that the romans thousands of miles away took in order to have the silk, as it was such a luxury item for only the rich and the powerful.

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What: Ideas, technology exchanged; inventions

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What: Ideas, technology exchanged; inventions

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Arjun

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Arjun

Many other languages
Common ones
Khotanese
Tocharian
Sogdian
Chinese

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Josh

Religions:
Buddhism
Zoroastrianism
Manicheism
Nestorianism
Islam

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Liam

Civilizations on the silk road are:

China

India (various civilizations in India)

Malaya/Java

Arabia

Rome

Persia

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Where: Map of routes - Movement of people,products, etc.

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Where: Map of routes - Movement of people,products, etc.

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Liam

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Tyler
Started with production of Silk in China, then use of caravans spread. Then Rome wanted more silk so a trade route was started between Rome and China. Towns and villages sprung up along the route for travellers to rest, trade, gain supplies, and shelter from robbers.

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Search Results

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Search through the entire ancient history timeline. Specify between which dates you want to search, and what keywords you are looking for.

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To navigate the timeline, click and drag it with your mouse, or click on the timeline overview on the bottom. Search through the entire ancient history timeline. Specify between which dates you want to search, and what keywords you are looking for.

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Tyler
Many goods were traded on the silk road including woollen products, ceramic and glass items, and gems. These items came from many regions along the silk road, and one of the most important goods was silk which was produced from China.

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As the name implies, silk was the most representative of the goods traded on the Silk Road.

In addition to silk, China's porcelain, tea, paper, and bronze products, India's fabrics, spices, semi-precious stones, dyes, and ivory, Central Asia's cotton, woolen goods, and rice, and Europe's furs, cattle, and honey were traded on the Silk Road.

1. Silk

Chinese silk was sold to Central Asia, Iran, Arabia, and the Roman Empire (Europe) along the Silk Road.

Silk was the favorite product along the Silk Road. Chinese silk was regarded as a treasure in ancient Central Asia, West Asia, Africa, and Europe.

The European market had the biggest demand for silk and Chinese silk was highly appreciated in Europe. Colorful silk fabric dazzled the eyes of the people in the vast Roman Empire. The rich and powerful paid huge sums of gold to obtain it.

It is estimated that ancient Rome exported as much as 130 tonnes (143 tons) of gold each year to buy silk.

Silk was the ideal commodity for silk road trade. Because a caravan's carrying capacity was limited, its products needed to be light and of high value. Silk fitted these characteristics exactly.

2. Porcelain

China exported porcelain to Japan, the Korean peninsula, Southeast Asia, west and central Asia, east and north Africa, and Europe.

Porcelain was another product that was prized in the West. The popularity of porcelain even surpassed that of silk in the latter times of Silk Road trade. Silk exports began to decline at the end of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) as silk making techniques spread to central and southern Asia and Europe.

It was during the Han Dynasty era (206 BC - 220 AD) that the first kinds of brightly-colored porcelain were manufactured and sent westwards, and especially during the Tang and Yuan (1279-1368) eras, fine porcelain pieces were produced in massive quantities and exported.

The 17th and 18th centuries were the golden age of the export of Chinese porcelain. About 200,000 pieces were exported annually in the 17th century. In the 18th century, sales peaked at about a million units a year.

3. Horses

China initially mainly traded silk for horses from central Asia.

Horses were China's most prized import. Horses from central Asia were large and swift - good steads and warhorses. Chinese envoys describe them 'winged horses', as they were significantly better than breeds in the empire.

China's various dynasties always had a need for horses. Local breeds were considered too small, and they wanted better horses to use in battles against nomads and enemy cavalry. This is actually what spurred the Han court to begin regular Silk Road trade in the 2nd century BC.

4. Woolen Products

Woolens from Central Asia and the eastern Mediterranean were sold to China.

Sheep were largely unknown in the eastern empires. Then, woolen clothes, carpets, curtains, blankets, and rugs came to China from Central Asia and the eastern Mediterranean.

These products impressed the Chinese, because they were unfamiliar with the methods of wool processing, carpet manufacture, and weaving. Parthian tapestries and carpets were highly appreciated in the ancient empires.

5. Food

China received more exotic food than it exported. Tea was the main food export from China. See more on the Tea-Horse Road trade.

Initially, during the Han era, traders brought in grape seeds. Much of Eurasia had cultivated grapevines and made wines from time immemorial, but the Han, separated from other civilizations by seas, extreme deserts, and high mountains, thought it was novel. They were surprised that people made wine from them.

Other exotic vegetable and fruit imports included:

String beans from central and south America

Sesame seeds from ancient central Asia

Onions from central or west Asia

Carrots from Persia (now Iran)

Spinach from Nepal

Eggplants from India

Cucumbers from India

Pomegranates from Persia (now Iran)

Watermelons from India

6. Spices and Perfumes

The Arabs dominated the spices and perfumes trade. They traded spices to China and Europe. Although it was not the world's only producing area, it monopolized the transshipment trade in India and East Africa - two other sources. By the 10th century, the trade in Europe was almost entirely controlled by Arab traders.

China also produced spices, but the variety was very limited due to geographical limitations. Its main spices - cloves and musk - were sold to the West along with silks and porcelain.

7. Glassware

Turkish glass lamp

Glassware was one of the main commodities imported into China from the West. Glassware was novel. It was considered a luxury good in those days.

First the Romans and then Samarkand (SE Uzbekistan) made glassware that was especially valued due to its high quality and transparency. Ancient/medieval glassware from west Asia has been unearthed in China, Japan, and Korea.

8. Slaves

The glorious Silk Road also hosted a dark and tragic slave trade. Slaves were treated as commodities. Many slaves traveled long distances by land and sea to foreign markets far away.

Slaves were traded as goods in all the countries along the Silk Road, including Europe, west Asia, Persia, India, Southeast Asia, and China.

To get slaves across borders, money and animals were paid for a pass. Not only the sellers, but also the local ports, markets, and officials benefited. That's why the slave didn't stop until the 19th or 20th century in Asia, long after the Silk Road waned in importance.

9. Ideas and Inventions

Apart from material goods, religion and technology were also "traded" along the Silk Road.

Ideas

Longmen Grottoes

In the area of religion and philosophy, the Chinese were net importers. None of the religions and philosophies of China, such as Taoism and Confucianism gained much of a following in Western countries, but the religions of Buddhism and to a lesser extent Islam and Christianity all gained followings in the eastern empires.

Many grottoes along the Silk Road, e.g. the Longmen Grottoes, are a witness to the growth and prevalence of Buddhism along the route.

Inventions

The technology for silk fabric making, stained glass, paper, books, gunpowder, and gun production spread to the West.

Papermaking techniques reached Samarkand in the 8th century. By the 13th century, the very important technology for making paper reached Europe through Baghdad and enabled the Renaissance of European science and culture.

In the 5th century, glass making technology reached China, and later it was applied to make colorful cloisonné.

10. Disease

Diseases also traveled along the Silk Road. The Black Death, which broke out in 1347, was a terrible disaster spreading along the trade routes.

Some research suggests that the Black Death was transmitted largely by the Silk Road. Infected rats followed caravans along the Silk Road to the Mediterranean, where they spread north and south to Africa and Europe.

FAQs about Silk Road Trade

1. What did Europe trade on the Silk Road?

2. What did China trade on the Silk Road?

3. How were goods traded on the Silk Road?

4. Where did the Silk Road trade start and end?

Explore the Silk Road with Us

Today, the Silk Road still tells many stories of ancient times and the exchange of cultures. Take a tour to discover the history and culture of the Silk Road. See our Silk Road tour designs for inspiration (all tours can be customized):

Or contact us to create your very own Silk Road tour based on your group size, time, budget, interests, and other requirements.

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What Was Traded on the Silk Road and Why (10 Items)

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Silk was China's favorite Silk Road export. Learn about this and other exports and imports traded: porcelain, tea, foods, horses, technology, religions, disease...