The term “Silk Road” refers to a network of trade routes that connected East Asia and the West from ca. 100 BCE until the mid-15th century CE. These routes facilitated the exchange of luxury commodities like silk between China and the Mediterranean world. They also played a crucial role in the transmission of culture, religion, ideas, and technology. Web resources here and here.

Map of primary routes of the Silk Road. Credit: Kelvin Case.