Although commonly termed “The Silk Road”, implying a single, continuous highway, this interchange used a multitude of land and sea routes connecting Asia, Africa and Europe. Indeed, although often taught as just an ancient trade route, 15th century European attempts to find a sea route to Asia was just another manifestation of an already familiar trade pattern. In reality, east/west trade influenced the history of the New World as much as it did that of the Old World.

Today international trade is booming. In recent decades, as China has opened its doors and scholarship to the West, Western scholars and educators have taken renewed interest in ancient east/west trade, and discovered the roots of our current global economy.

Included in this section is a PowerPoint presentation on a standard Silk Road land route in the 8th century C.E. developed for sixth grade students. This PowerPoint emphasizes location and economics, but also includes information about religion, especially the rapidly spreading faith of Islam.

Click Here for Slide Show