Great Silk Road Products

      The goods along the Great Silk Road went mainly from east to west. And, as the name implies, silk was the main item on this list. Due to its lightness, compactness, huge demand and high cost, it was an ideal subject of trade for transportation over long distances.

    Back in the Middle Ages, the Venetian merchant Marco Polo called these caravan routes silk. And the scientific term “Great Silk Road” was introduced in 1877 by the German researcher Ferdinand Richthofen in his fundamental work “China”. 

At the initial stage of the development of the Silk Road, the Chinese received highly valued horses from Central Asia, as well as alfalfa seeds and grape culture. The ancient world from ancient times cultivated the vine and produced wines. For the Chinese, primarily separated from other civilizations, grapes were a novelty. Moreover, the Chinese envoys were extremely surprised that the wine can be made not from rice, but from berries unknown to them. Later, the Chinese developed several more crops through beans trade, such as beans, onions, cucumbers, carrots, pomegranates, walnuts, figs, etc.

    A variety of woollen products came to China from Central Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean - carpets, curtains, bedspreads, and rugs. They made a huge impression on the Chinese, unfamiliar with the techniques of processing wool, linen, carpet production and hand-woven weaving. Parthian tapestry fabrics and carpets were highly valued in ancient China. 

Camels that were highly valued in China, military equipment, gold and silver, semiprecious stones and glassware were exported from Central Asia. Samarkand glass was especially appreciated for its high quality. It was previously considered as a luxury item. As well as leather and wool, cotton fabrics, gold-embroidered fabrics, exotic fruits - watermelons, melons and peaches, fat tail sheep and hunting dogs, leopards and lions. 

From India, fabrics, spices and gems, dyes, ivory was delivered. Silver products from Iran. Spices, incense, precious stones, ivory, sugar were brought to Rome. From there, European paintings and luxury goods.

Rice, cotton, wool and silk were delivered to Eastern Europe from Central Asia. A large number of skins, furs, fur animals, bark for tanning leathers, cattle and slaves were brought from Eastern Europe to Khorezm. In addition to furs and skins, honey and slaves were brought from Northern Europe.  

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