Between 1 and 1450 CE, the Silk Road, which was made during Han China, was one of the most useful trade networks that greatly impacted and connected regions of Eastern Asia to the Mediterranean in the West. It did not just introduce ideas, but spread diseases, such as Measles and the Plague, as well. Although the changes of the Silk Road do not meet the number of the continuities, it did contribute to the change of religion, health, and technology of many societies, while its purpose and traded products to boost the economy remained the same throughout time.
Silk was one of the most important products traded in the Silk Road network. Silk quickly became popular in Europe after it was first encountered at a military campaign against the Parthians. People in Europe found silk to be attractive and were desperate to obtain it. They found a trade route to the East and used it to obtain silk from the Chinese. Hence the name, “Silk Road”, the trade of silk remained constant through time between the East and West. Silk also contributed to social status in many societies. Silk was expensive; therefore, many peasants could not afford it. It became a fashion statement, where people who had silk, were wealthy. It was similar to the way foot binding was in China; small feet were a sign of wealth. The impact of silk trade was that it connected Europe with Asia and that it made the economy of many regions, especially China, prosperous.
The Silk Road was not always a safe trading network. After the fall of the Tang Dynasty, the Silk Road declined and the Silk Road fell into the hands of Islamic control. Asia’s nomads were divided into tribes that were not necessarily friendly to each other and usually pillaged each other. The were 2 routes on the Silk Road; one was the steppe route, where nomads were common,