Opening of the Silk Road

130 BCE · Chang'an (Xi'an), Çin · economic

The Silk Road, formally opened in the 2nd century BCE through the Central Asian expeditions of the Han envoy Zhang Qian, was a network of overland and maritime trade routes extending from China to the Mediterranean.

Along with goods such as silk, spices, paper, and glass, religions (Buddhism, and later Islam), technologies, and diseases were also carried along these routes. It became the most important cultural and economic bridge between the civilizations of Eurasia.

Related civilizations

Frequently asked questions

What was Opening of the Silk Road?
The Silk Road, formally opened in the 2nd century BCE through the Central Asian expeditions of the Han envoy Zhang Qian, was a network of overland and maritime trade routes extending from China to the Mediterranean.
When did Opening of the Silk Road happen?
130 BCE
Where did Opening of the Silk Road take place?
Chang'an (Xi'an), Çin