How Did The Silk Roads Change Over Time

The Silk Road was a trade route, beginning in China and created during the Han dynasty, which facilitated trade throughout Eurasia. The Silk Roads stretched all the way to the Mediterranean, and goods from places such as Rome and even Africa were traded along the roads. From 200 BC to 1450 BCE, the patterns of interactions along the Silk Roads changed with the spread of religions and the rise and fall of civilizations, but maintained continuity with the goods traded along its routes and its main purpose. Despite the many changes in the patterns of interactions along the Silk Roads from 200 BC to 1450 BCE, there were many continuities that remained throughout this time period. For the most part, the goods that were traded along the Silk Roads
remained the same. Throughout the years, luxurious goods were sent from Asia. For example, luxuries such as Jade, gunpowder, and silk were exported to from Asia to Europe. Europe exported wool, weaponry, science, and literature on the Silk Roads. Another continuity that lasted throughout this time was Asia’s, and in particularly China's, economy was heavily reliant on the trade of the Silk Roads. Also, Europe’s economic status remained fueled by Asian trade. The purpose of the Silk Road also never changed during this time span and remained a route to deal goods. Ideas, innovations, religion, and various goods were a continuity exchanged on the Silk Roads. More importantly, the Silk Road was always a place where the exchange of cultures allowed interaction and shared ideas. The Silk Road changed in its trading partners as time passed and as the dynasties fell.
The Silk Roads were first established in about 200 CE, stretching from China’s Han Dynasty to Western Rome. Also, different religions were spread at the course of the route. Buddhism became an influential religion for the Chinese that was brought from India along the Silk Roads. Buddhism mostly appealed to the people of lower ranks because the religion rejected social hierarchies, promoting self-discovery and equality among men. Buddhism was spread in the beginning followed by Islam and Christianity later. The collapse of the Roman Empire and Han Dynasty caused the end of trade along the Silk Roads in this era. The Byzantine Empire then became a center of trade along the Silk Road trade routes after the fall of the Roman Empire. The Muslim traders in the Abbasid Empire influenced the spread of Islam to parts of Asia, such as China and Eastern Asia. The Muslim traders also traded in Africa for gold, silver, ivory, and jewels and spread Islam to the Swahili Coast. The spread of Confucianism and Neo-Confucianism was also spread in a very similar way to Islam through trade along the Silk Roads. This era of the Silk Road ended with the Mongol Invasion of
Eurasia.