II.

The Silk Route

One of the most notable early examples of long-distance commerce was the Silk Route between China and imperial Rome, first established around 100 bc when the Han dynasty made much of Central Asia safe for travellers. Along the 6,000-km (3,700-mi) route, traders transported Chinese silk, Roman wool and precious metals, and many other high-value commodities from intermediate points in India and Arabia. Coastal sea trade in the Arabian Ocean, Indian Ocean, and North Pacific was also common. Because of the vast distances involved, traders concentrated on luxury items with a high ratio of value to weight, which were traded on through intermediaries rather than remaining with a single merchant. Political upheavals along the overland routes after the 5th century ad curtailed the trade, but it periodically revived during periods of peace.