Silk Road

By Maryfel
  • 100

    100 CE Roman Empire becomes a major market for Eastern goods. Empires of Rome, Parthia, and China bring stability to the trade routes.

  • 140

    140-130 BCE

    Following a long migration from the Chinese border in about 165 BC, the Tocharians/Yuezhi follow the Scythians in invading Bactria. The Yuezhi are later united under one of their tribes, the Kushans, to form an empire which stretches into India.
  • 202

    202 BCE- 220 CE

    The Han Dynasty in China is credited with opening the Silk Road largely through the missions and explorations of Zhang Qian (Chang Chien ) after 138 BCE.
  • 247

    247 BCE–224 CE Parthian Empire.

  • 306

    306-1453 CE

    Byzantine Empire, one of the most powerful economic, cultural, and military forces in Europe.
  • 330

    330–64 BCE Hellenistic rule: Seleucid Dynasty.

  • 330

    330 BCE The expansion of Alexander the Great's empire into Central Asia further leads to opening the Silk Road between the East and the West.

  • 435

    434 CE Nomadic pastoral Huns of Asia who migrated to Europe c. AD 370, led by Atilla create a Eurasian empire.

  • 465

    465–522 CE Hephthalites conquer Gandhara, then Sogdiana, and extend their power as far as Zungaria, Turfan, Karashar, and later India.

  • 500

    500 CE Nestorian Christians reach China.

  • 500

    551-479 Confucius born in China.

  • 500

    500 CE Decline of Xiongnu (Hsiung-nu) tribal confederation (described by 3rd century BC Chinese sources as the first nomadic empire in Central Asia).

  • 500

    500 CE Sericulture, the raising of silkworms, begins in Europe.

  • Period: 500 to Dec 10, 1000

    Silk Road China

  • 550

    550–330 BCE Achaemenid Empire, forged by Cyrus the Great, encompasses three continents: Asia, Africa and Europe.

  • 552

    552-742 Gokturks become a main power in Eurasia and take hold of the lucrative Silk Road trade.

  • Dec 10, 600

    600 CE Xuan Zang (Hsuan-tsang) Chinese Buddhist monk of the Tang Dynasty travels to India.

  • Dec 10, 600

    600 CE Muslims control Mesopotamia and Iran, along with the silk and spice routes.

  • Dec 10, 700

    As trade between India and the Greco-Roman world increased, spices became the main import from India to the Western world, rivaling silk and other commodities. The Indian commercial connection with South East Asia proved vital to the merchants of Arabia a

  • Dec 10, 700

    Arabs conquer Spain, which introduces Eastern knowledge and science to Europe. 700 CE

  • Dec 10, 744

    744–840 CE Uighurs (Uyghurs) rule over an empire north of the Gobi Desert.

  • Dec 10, 750

    Abbasid Dynasty makes the Silk Road city of Baghdad their capital, and a center of power and learning. 750-1258 CE

  • Dec 10, 751

    Arab victory at the Battle of Talas in Kyrgyzstan Central Asia. 751 CE

  • Dec 10, 1000

    1000 CE After first Crusade knowledge exchanged between Europe and Middle East.

  • 1 CE Indo-Roman trade.

  • 25 BCE- 235 CE

    Roman Provinces are established in Anatolia (Asia Minor) from 25 BC to 235 AD when numerous roads are built linking the highland cities to the Anatolian coast. Primarily designed for military use, they become important communication and trade routes.

  • 27 BCE–330 CE Roman Empire (silk becomes very popular in West Asia and around the Mediterranean).

  • 992-1211 CE Turkic Karakhanids take control of the Tarim region of Xinjiang China.

    Turkic Karakhanids take control of the Tarim region of Xinjiang China

  • Samanid Empire. 874-999 CE

  • 322 BCE–500 CE Early large centralized kingdoms and empires in South Asia.

  • 2nd–1st century BCE The Yueh-chih are documented in detail in Chinese historical accounts. (See Hsiung-nu Empire and Xiongnu)

  • 2nd century BCE–10th century CE Sogdians dominate trade along the Silk Route.

  • 3rd century BCE–2nd century CE

    Emergence of Arabian kingdoms in southern Arabia as the result of important trade routes based on the Arabian monopoly of two prized goods of ancient times: frankincense and myrrh. These two resins only grow in eastern Yemen and southern Oman and in some parts of Somalia. These trade routes are collectively known as the "Incense Route" and were controlled by the Arabs, who brought frankincense and myrrh by camel caravan from South Arabia. The incense trade flourish

  • Venice established as a city-state. 800 CE

  • 618–907 CE The Silk Road flourishes under the Tang dynasty, known as a golden age of cosmopolitan culture in China, which reflects the height of cultural exchanges along Silk Routes.

  • 399–414 CE Fa-hsien, the first known Chinese monk reaches India and returns to China.