The Silk Road

The Silk Road had a massive impact on the development of Europe, ranging from the Romans to the Renaissance. Culture and vital technology were shared by these routes that without, we may still have been living in a feudal society. Many goods were also traded obviously that enhanced the lives of both the Europeans and those they traded with. But with the sharing of these cultures and religions came conflict with led to wars such as the crusades.

While traders traversed the silk road (although very few went from one end to another) they passed by and stayed amongst cultures that were far different from their own, many of these traders that experienced these different traditions and ideas brought them back home with them. For example the Chinese were the first to effectively use gunpowder, and without the silk road this incredible advancement in warfare would have not been available to Europeans for hundreds of years. The printing press which allowed thinkers to get their radical new ideas about freedom and rebellion against the Catholic church was also first developed in Asia. The people of Europe took the idea and applied it to their own lives. Without either of these things, Europe could have very well been the same old society we read about in history books still.

Silk was not the only thing that was traded on the Silk Road. Many other valuable products made their way across the Route for the gain of all who were involved, although most of the benefit does go to Europe. Spices that allowed food that had been salted in order to preserve it to still have some taste to it, a big plus to the lives of those who could afford to have spices shipped half way around the world. Medicines were also traded which have very obvious value in that they extended the lives of those who could get a hold of them. Pottery was also traded by those in the middle east for products that both the Europeans and the Asians had, this allowed middle eastern nations to develop along side their neighbours and remain in control of their lands.

While some traders brought back the ideas and traditions that they had learned on the Silk Road, some opposed them and tried to force their ideas upon the natives of the land. This resulted in Major conflicts. Through the Silk Road, leaders of the Christians in Europe learned that the "Holy Land" or Israel was under control of the Arabs, They couldn't just let that sit could they? So they sent their great armies to go and reclaim it and thus the crusades began. If the silk road had not existed, how would they have learned of these things? Also, how did these armies get to the Holy Land? Most likely through the trade routes of the Silk Road. Even today, these same conflicts still exist, and it all started on the Silk Road.

As you can see The Silk Road has played not just any ordinary role in the development of Europe from its medieval Society to the modern place it is today, but a lead role that we couldn't have lived without. Now we have many other ways of transporting goods such as air travel and new sea routes, but we also have the ways needed to transport ideas across the land through the media. The effects of the Silk Road are still in effect today, the middle east is in chaos because some are still trying to force those same ideals upon the people, and the people will still not accept them.