Silk Road Flashcards

Silk Road

An ancient network of trade routes that connected China with the Mediterranean, facilitating trade and cultural exchange for over 1,500 years.

Han Dynasty

The dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE) during which the groundwork for the Silk Road was laid, notably through the expeditions of Zhang Qian.

Peak Period of Silk Road

The most active period of the Silk Road, approximately 130 BCE to 1453 CE.

Key Exports from East to West

Silk, spices, tea, porcelain, gunpowder, and paper.

Buddhism

A religion that spread from India to China via the Silk Road.

Cultural Exchange

The transmission of ideas, beliefs, and technology facilitated by the Silk Road.

Maritime Trade

Trade conducted by sea, which contributed to the decline of the overland Silk Road.

Political Instability

Factors such as the decline of the Mongol Empire that made overland travel more perilous.

Ottoman Empire

The empire that rose in the 15th century, disrupting established trade patterns along the Silk Road.

Legacy of the Silk Road

Its impact on globalization, the integration of diverse cultures, and the inspiration for future explorers.