Silk Road Timeline

Introduction

3000 BCE

The purpose of the creation of this timeline is to thoroughly display the events which took place regarding the Silk Road. The Silk Road was a very important event in History because it played a large role in connecting India and China to the Mediterranean world. This massive trade route played an enormous act in economy and cultural exchange, which forever effected the world we see today.
Photo: https://spinditty.com/industry/Music-on-the-Silk-Road

Creation of Silk in China

3000 BCE

Silk was first created in China through the use of the silkworm. It was first used at the time for wrapping the body of a child. It later progressed to being used for art, clothing, and decorations. It was primarily used and kept within China, but was discovered by India, Japan, and Korea hence the beginning of exporting silk to the west.
Photo: http://coconuttelegraph.weebly.com/the-silk-road.html

Opening of the Silk Road

138 BCE

The journey of Zhang Qian, a Chinese official and diplomat, is concluded to be the base of officially opening the Silk Road. His traveling showed that their was an ability to navigate west and back safely. Following, interaction began to occur between civilizations throughout Asia. The image I have attached is a representation of the Silk Road created in the 14th century.
Photo: http://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-asia/treacherous-trading-dangers-silk-road-009673

Silk in Rome

100 BCE

Soon after Rome became an empire, silk arrived. The people of luxury in Rome were known to favor silk, although they did not know much about China and did not have contact with them until the second century, they were able to obtain it through the Silk Road.
Photo: http://www.historyshistories.com/silk-road-city-links.html

Spread of Religion Along the Silk Road

Period: 100 BCE to 700

Religion and beliefs were known to have spread signicantly along the Silk Road. The following religions were spread: Buddhism (100 BC), Zoroastrianism (500-400 BC), Nestorianism (600 A.D.), Islam (700 BC). All of these religions were known to have spread throughout China, however, Islam did not -- but it did largely influence China's spiritual beliefs. Islam did spread throughout the Middle East and Central Asia through the Silk Road.

Silk Road Expands North and South

1 CE

Once the silk road became secure and steady, trade along this route was done in the form of caravans and spread in Northern and Southern regions including Southern Asia beyond the Indian Ocean to Africa, India and the Near East, Mongolia and Russia. The photo I have attached is a photo of the Silk Road in Africa (1992).
Photo: https://www.geopolitica.ru/en/article/sahelian-saharan-silk-road-one-chinas-master-plans-africa

Claudius Ptolemy

1 CE

Graeco-Egyptian geographer, Claudius Ptolemy, began to attempt to map out the Silk Road at this time seeing as it was rapidly expanding and becoming popular.
Photo: https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/claudius-ptolemy-526.php

Silkworm Farms Spread

400

Silkworm farms, the source of silk, was dominantly in China in the past, but it was at this time that they were exposed to other parts of the world. This made it possible for other countries to produce silk on their own. It is believed a Chinese princess attempted to smuggle silkworms and succeeded in doing so, which caused a fast spread in silkworm farms in central Asia, and later around 500 A.D., in Europe.
Photo: https://www.thoughtco.com/why-vegans-dont-wear-silk-127729

Decline of Silk Road

Period: 901 to 1453

In 901-1000 BCE, the Silk Road began to decline due to the fall of Tang Dynasty; the Tang Dynasty is where the Silk Road flourished. The demand for trade heightened greatly throughout these many years, so an alternate easier and faster way of trade was created -- sea routes; this damaged the need for the Silk Road greatly. Eventually, the use of sea routes along with other factors caused the Silk Road to diminish.

Black Death Plague

1300

The Black Death Plague killed millions within Europe due to it coming from Central Asia along the Silk Road. The exchange of goods allowed for this toxic plague to be spread at a fast pace. The Silk Road is believed to be a large factor in the spread of this plague. The photo I have attached is a representation of this deadly plague painted by a French artist in 1401-1500.
Photo: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2017/08/18/542435991/those-iconic-images-of-the-plague-thats-not-the-plague

Silk Road Has No Silk

1400

The Ming Dynasty had stopped trading silk outside of China around this time, so the silk road no longer had silk within it. The Chinese still exported teas, salt, sugar, porcelain, and spices within the Silk Road, so this trade route still operated.
Photo: https://www.heritagedaily.com/2016/06/ming-dynasty-palace-ruins-found-in-forbidden-city/111726

Conclusion

1453

The Silk Road was a large influence in the past, and has played a large role in the present -- without it, contact between the different countries of the world would be quite different. The Silk Road trade journeys expanded from China through India, Asia Minor, up all through Mesopotamia, to Egypt, the African continent, Greece, Rome, and Britain.
Photo: https://sputniknews.com/politics/201608271044693862-china-russia-india-silk-road/