In the 19th century, a German archaeologist named Ferdinand Von Richthofen established the name of one of the most famous trade and religious routes of all time, the so-called Silk Road. Before that name was chosen, this route, with more than seven thousand kilometers, had already been used for more than ten thousand years by adventurers, merchant pilgrims, clerics, monarchs and soldiers who cut this extensive set of road on foot or on the back of animals, from the Syrian portion of the Mediterranean Sea to the Chinese territories of Xiang.
The most ancient importance of this path is found in the process of spreading, even in Prehistory, of the human communities from the African continent to different regions of Asia and Oceania in search of better conditions of life. Centuries later, this same access route would determine the penetration of Indo-European peoples in the Middle East. Such occupation would give rise to the Semitic peoples who, in turn, would establish the genesis of the Arabs and Jews.
Around the 6th century BC a., the territorial unification undertaken by the Persian Empire was the first step so that diverse commercial activities were organized by the peoples encompassed by those civilizations. Traders leaving the West brought African ivory, gold, animal skins, wine, and riding animals. In return, the distant Chinese territories offered aromatic herbs, perfumes and the so-called silk fabrics that named the way.
In fact, caravans did not travel the entire length of the Silk Road. Over time, we realized that certain cities were responsible for adding traders who were concentrated in just one stretch of the route. In this way, we see that commerce has become an activity that organized the social, economic and political scenario in different parts of this large territory. Between the 3rd and 4th centuries, the invasion of the Huns marked the least safe period for merchant parties to move.
Do not stop now... There's more after the advertising ;)
In the eighth century, the western part of the route began to be dominated by the Arabs who carried out the conquests of the lands of Persia. Centuries later, in the twelfth century, Genghis Khan's knights and soldiers took over Central Asia, Northern China and the Tibetan territories. Contrary to what it might seem, the Mongolian military domination was of great help in keeping the Silk Road's commercial economy alive over the decades. With the simple payment of fees, merchants were entitled to traffic and trade.
Even in the medieval period, we realize that the Commercial Renaissance fostered the split of that limited worldview of feudal times. At that time, Marco Polo's famous travels accounted for landscapes, customs and cities that broadened the perspectives of the time. Over time, the closing of this trade route greatly encouraged the realization of Grandes Navegações. In such a way, European man began to build new trade routes across seas and continents.
By Rainer Sousa
Master in History
Brazil School Team
Curiosities - Brazil School
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
SOUSA, Rainer Gonçalves. "The Silk Road"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/curiosidades/a-rota-seda.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.