The Silk Road1. Connecting the Continents

2. The Products and Ideas Traveled

3. The Road’s Importance

Oldest Trade RouteIts use began in the 5th and 4th centuries BCE. Traders

used this road to carry goods to and from Asia and Europe.

It was about a 4,000 mile route and camel caravans were used to transport the goods.

Along with its western connections to the Roman Empire, it was the longest road on Earth.

Connecting the ContinentsIt started in Xi’an in northwestern China and headed

westward through the Middle East. It ended in the LEVANT, or the shores of the eastern Mediterranean sea in Lebanon.

Later the route was extended to Shanghai, and the journey was very difficult and dangerous.

Traders traveled over mountains and through deserts in a hot climate and had to defend themselves against robbers.

Products on the RouteCrops from Western Asia: grapes, figs, cucumbers and

walnuts went to China.The Chinese traded their silk with the rest of Asia.Europeans wanted spices and Asians wanted wool, gold and

silver.Buddhism spread along the Silk Road and it was easy for

Buddhist monks and priests to share their ideas with travelers using the road.

During the 13th century, Christian leaders hoped they could convert Asians to Christians along the road…it was called Nestorian Christianity.

The Road’s ImportanceThis road was used until a safe sea route to Asia from

Europe was possible. Today, part of the road is still in existence.

The United Nations wants to make the Silk Road into a trans-Asian Highway.

Questions

Which was not part of the Silk Road? (India, Australia, Xi’an, China)

What was the Levant?

On the Silk Road, Christians hope that…..

What could be a decline of the Silk Road?

AnswersAustraliaA place in Lebanon along the coast of the eastern

Mediterranean SeaThey could convert others to ChristianityNew water routes were found