Historical Look at How the Silk Road Has Impacted Trade Over Time

The Silk Road of China has greatly changed the way trade has developed over time. As China emerged in the eyes of other civilizations from its concealed home in between the high, towering mountains, things started to change. China has greatly benefitted from the Silk Road. However, China was not the only one to take this great opportunity as a way to make itself prosperous, but other civilizations along the way, such as Persia in later times, Carthage, Egypt, and Mesopotamia. The Silk Road is a grand marvel in which to admire in ancient times, and it has greatly changed over the span of time, especially during the interim between 200 B.C.E. and 1450 C.E.

To begin with, the Silk Road was not as used and eminent as it was later on in ancient times, especially not during 200 B.C.E., as new civilizations had only began to proliferate in various areas. At first, only several major civilizations were around which utilized the Silk Road for trade and travel, consisting of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Carthage/Phoenicia, Persia, and China. The slow amount of trade showed that as time goes on things greatly are affected. The things that were traded at first greatly differed as well to those traded later on, as new technologies and materials were experimented and used for different aspects of everyday life. The evolution of trade through the Silk Road also was affected by technologies. During 200 B.C.E there were little technologies which helped make trading at faster speeds much more facilitated, as a matter a fact the only true helpful technology was the development of chariots at the time being. Needless to say, going on horse was the most efficient way at the time being. This didn't remain for long, for the reason that as centuries passed, situations changed. The emergence of new kingdoms, altercations, and new technologies helped change the Silk Road.

As time passed, and centuries rolled by, the emergence of kingdoms and new empires was greatly noticeable, many of which include the Byzantine Empire, the Abbasid Caliphate, the Frankish Kingdoms, Kievan Rus, the Song Empire, and the Tang Empire. These new kingdoms helped ignite the true potential of the Silk Road as we know it in history books today. Trade bloomed in the Silk Road as new metals, fabrics, and technologies were exchanged as well as knowledge. The wars also greatly changed trade over the Silk Road, as the Abbasid Caliphate subjugated the Western Roman Empire in 476 C.E., and weakened the Byzantine Empire through constants attacks. The Silk Road also helped spread many technologies such as gun powder, Greek fire, and Catapults from the Song Dynasty of China. This helped modernize many civilizations, changing the way of combat more like the way it seems today. Although these things greatly affected the way the Silk Road changed, many other things such as the invasion of the Mongols over Song China debased the amount of trade received from China during the 1000's.

Without question, one can see that the Silk Road from 200 B.C.E., was not the same of that of 1450 C.E. Things which developed overtime such as new technologies and innovations as well as new trading communities and kingdoms helped to change the Silk Road overall for the better.