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Was the Silk Road mountainous?
New research reveals secrets of how the ancient trade routes of the Silk Road were formed. They connected China, Mongolia, Persia, India, and more, then stretched all the way across the mountains, deserts, and steppes of Central Asia to the Eastern Mediterranean, allowing for the transport of gems and spices and silks.
How did they travel the Silk Road?
Merchants and tradesmen traveled in large caravans. They would have many guards with them. Traveling in a big group like a caravan helped in defending from bandits. Camels were popular animals for transport because much of the road was through dry and harsh land.
What kind of terrain did the Silk Road cross through?
The geography of the Silk Roads then is a complex interaction between the physical and climate zones of mountain, steppe or grasslands, and river valleys and oases which often are bounded by uninhabitable desert. Thus populations could be dispersed (in the grasslands) or concentrated in the oases and river valleys.
What raw materials did the Silk Road export?
In addition to the silk, China’s porcelain, tea, paper, and bronze products, India’s fabrics, spices, semi-precious stones, dyes, and ivory, Central Asia’s cotton, woolen goods, and rice, and Europe’s furs, cattle, and honey were traded on the Silk Road.
What kind of landscape does the Silk Road cover?
The Silk Road extended approximately 6,437 kilometers (4,000 miles) across some of the world’s most formidable landscapes, including the Gobi Desert and the Pamir Mountains.
What did bandits do on the Silk Road?
Caravans would trade items such as furs, ceramics, cinnamon, bark, rhubarb, and bronze. The terrain was taken advantage by the bandits who organized raids so they could rob the caravans. Caravans traveled with their own forces as defense, which would increase the cost of the trip for the merchants.
What problems did the Silk Road have?
The main problems facing traders on the Silk Road were lack of safety and security, adverse weather conditions, rugged landscape, and lack of adequate…