Silk Road Dbq

297 Words2 Pages
In the midst of the time period of 200 B.C.E. to 1450 C.E., the Silk Road experienced a multitude of distinct changes while simultaneously retaining its original purpose. The trade of spices and goods to and from Asia and Europe was a constant factor, while the actual materials traded slowly changed. The border lines and the customs of the encompassing countries of the Silk Road also were altered. Despite alterations in materials, the original purpose of the Silk Road remained intact throughout the centuries. European items were bartered with Asian traders on the infamous road and vice versa. Asia’s financial economy, specifically that of China, consistently relied heavily on the money from Silk Road trade. In comparison, Europe’s economic status remained supplied by Asian trades. While the basic purpose of the Silk Road remained mostly the same, its’ goods and destinations went through many changes. The road started as a small transport route for Eurasian merchants, but later turned into an important economical and cultural necessity. Once Asian products, like spices and fabrics, were used by Europeans, they became dependent on them. This also occurred in Asia, and it began to shape both cultures. Also, due to the large amount of political changes that occurred during this expanse of time, the Silk Road also traveled through the new countries that began when the Roman Empire collapsed. This created the cultures of these nations along the Silk Road. In conclusion, the Silk Road’s basic purpose remained intact from 200 B.C.E. to 1450 C.E., but the important interactions that occurred on it did not. Empires collapsed, causing new nations to form, which in turn brought countless changes to the cultures and the interactions between the merchants and peoples along the Silk
Open Document