Several of the places I just visited in Turkey played a big
part in the Silk Road. The Silk Road gets its name from the Chinese silk traded
in a giant network of caravan trading. The trading routes link Western Asia, the
Mediterranean countries, the European world, and North and East Africa. The
different countries provided their own materials for trading. China offered up
silk, spices, teas and porcelain (white ceramic). India provided ivory,
textiles, precious stones and pepper, while the Roman Empire provided gold,
silver, fine glassware, wine, carpets and jewels.
The trade was between merchants, pilgrims, missionaries,
soldiers, nomads, and urban dwellers from ancient China, India, Tibet, the
Persian Empire and Mediterranean countries for 3,000 years. In 1348 through
1350 the Plague (Black Death) devastated Europe and killed 60% of the population.
This shut down most of the Silk Road; however, some of the routes were used up
until only a few years ago.
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