3D CONSTRUCT: DETAIL

THE BEGINNING

• Trade incresased when roads and bridges were built
• It also increased when imperial states began to border each other
• When the classical empires were established, long-distance trade expanded
• This was when the Silk Roads began to take shape

GOODS TRADED

• Many agricultural and manufactured goods were traded across regions
• Silk and spices went from China and India to Iran and the Roman Empire
• These goods include cloves, nutmeg, mace, cardamom, ginger, pepper, and sesame oil
• India exported cotton textiles, ivory, pearls, and coral
• The Romans exported glassware, jewelry, art, perfumes, and bronze goods

OTHER THINGS TRADED

• The religions of Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, and Manichaeism were spread
• Disease was also spread throughout the continent
• The Han Dynasty and Roman Empire were brought to their knees with disease outbreaks
• Smallpox, measles, and the Bubonic plague were the most destructive
• They were most likely spread by traders on the Silk Roads

SPREAD OF RELIGION: BUDDHISM

• The Silk Roads expanded Buddhism from northern India to other parts of Asia, Iran, and China
• It largely spread through oasis towns along the silk roads
• After the classical era, Buddhist merchants helped spread it through China
• It became one of the most popular religions in all of Asia

SPREAD OF RELIGION: HINDUISM

• Merchants traveling the sea lanes in the Indian Ocean spread these beliefs to southeast Asia
• They spread the Shiva and Vishnu cults to the Islands in the Indian Ocean
• As it became popular, Hindu leaders were appointed in these areas
• In turn, they made Hinduism even more popular

SPREAD OF RELIGION: CHRISTIANITY

• The Romans tried to stamp out Christianity
• However, the Christians spread their beliefs through the magnificent networks of roads
• It spread from the Mediterranean to Mesopotamia and Iran with the silk roads