[BAVI World Tour!] The Silk Road

[Avi]

Several of the places I just visited in Turkey played a big part in the Silk Road. The Silk Road gets its name from the Chinese silk traded in a giant network of caravan trading. The trading routes link Western Asia, the Mediterranean countries, the European world, and North and East Africa. The different countries provided their own materials for trading. China offered up silk, spices, teas and porcelain (white ceramic). India provided ivory, textiles, precious stones and pepper, while the Roman Empire provided gold, silver, fine glassware, wine, carpets and jewels.

The trade was between merchants, pilgrims, missionaries, soldiers, nomads, and urban dwellers from ancient China, India, Tibet, the Persian Empire and Mediterranean countries for 3,000 years. In 1348 through 1350 the Plague (Black Death) devastated Europe and killed 60% of the population. This shut down most of the Silk Road; however, some of the routes were used up until only a few years ago. 

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Posted By Avi to BAVI World Tour! at 10/16/2011 11:37:00 AM