Trade Routes

Today we cannot live without trade. Whether it is a trade of goods for goods, products for products, or money for either of them. Throughout our history, humans have traded products and goods to be able to survive. Civilizations are not environmentally equipped to provide all resources to live. For example, in Inner Asia and the forest&semi-arid northern grasslands they were not able to produce enough agriculture to sustain their population due to the particular environment. In order to get agriculture products, they had to trade with nearby civilizations. They traded their hides, furs, livestock, wool, and amber. This allowed both sides of the trade to receive the goods they needed to survive. In order for these people to trade goods, they had to make a trade route. The most prominent route was the silk road that stretched from the Mediterranean Sea, around&through the Taklamakan Desert, down through the Kushan Empire, and to the city of Luoyang on the Yellow River. 

Now one could not make this route unless they were well prepared. They carried and transported goods in large camel caravans across the harsh and dangerous steppes, deserts and oases of Central Asia. Each region brought different products to the Silk Road. China brought silk, bamboo, mirrors, gunpowder, paper, and other products. The forest lands Siberia and grasslands of Central Asia contributed mainly animals and animal byproducts. India brought herbal medicine and spices. The Middle East contributed fruits, nuts, dyes, and swords. The Mediterranean basin brought gold coins, glassware, artworks, perfume, and olive oil. Each of the had their wants and needs by other regions because they could not produce them themselves. By the 4th millennium China had monopolized the silk industry. 

With trade, the different regions were able to share their culture and ideas. Trade was a great innovation however there still were downsides. One being disease. People on the Silk Road brought diseases that other people were not exposed to. This caused outbreaks of diseases causes civilizations to become weaker due to the decrease in population. 

Trade was also able to be expanded even more through trade over sea. People were able to travel to Africa and the Americans with their goods and receive other goods that were not available. With this expansion of trade people were able to be more connected throughout the world.