Silk Road | A short recap

• 2nd century BCE: The Han Dynasty of China opens trade with the West, starting the Silk Road.
• 1st century BCE: The Roman Empire begins importing Chinese silk, creating a demand for goods from the East.
• 1st-4th centuries CE: The Silk Road becomes a major trade route between the East and the West, connecting China with the Mediterranean region.
• 5th-10th centuries CE: The Silk Road experiences a decline due to the collapse of the Roman Empire and the rise of sea trade routes.
• 11th-13th centuries CE: The Silk Road is revived under the Mongol Empire, which established safe trade routes across Asia.
• 14th-15th centuries CE: The Silk Road experiences a decline again due to the rise of maritime trade routes and political instability in Asia.
• 19th century CE: European explorers rediscover the Silk Road and begin documenting its history and archaeological sites.
• 20th century CE: The Silk Road becomes a focus of international cultural and economic exchange, leading to the establishment of the Silk Road Economic Belt and other initiatives to promote regional cooperation.
• 21st century CE: The Silk Road continues to be an important symbol of cultural and economic exchange, with new infrastructure projects and tourism initiatives being developed along its route.