1. 1. Connecting the Continents 2. The Products and Ideas Traveled 3. The Road’s Importance

2. Oldest Trade Route Its use began in the 5 th and 4 th centuries BCE. Traders used this road to carry goods to and from Asia and Europe. It was about a 4,000 mile route and camel caravans were used to transport the goods. Along with its western connections to the Roman Empire, it was the longest road on Earth.

3. Connecting the Continents It started in Xi’an in northwestern China and headed westward through the Middle East. It ended in the LEVANT, or the shores of the eastern Mediterranean sea in Lebanon. Later the route was extended to Shanghai, and the journey was very difficult and dangerous. Traders traveled over mountains and through deserts in a hot climate and had to defend themselves against robbers.

5. Products on the Route Crops from Western Asia: grapes, figs, cucumbers and walnuts went to China. The Chinese traded their silk with the rest of Asia. Europeans wanted spices and Asians wanted wool, gold and silver. Buddhism spread along the Silk Road and it was easy for Buddhist monks and priests to share their ideas with travelers using the road. During the 13 th century, Christian leaders hoped they could convert Asians to Christians along the road…it was called Nestorian Christianity.

6. The Road’s Importance This road was used until a safe sea route to Asia from Europe was possible. Today, part of the road is still in existence. The United Nations wants to make the Silk Road into a trans-Asian Highway.

7. Questions Which was not part of the Silk Road? (India, Australia, Xi’an, China) What was the Levant? On the Silk Road, Christians hope that….. What could be a decline of the Silk Road?

8. Answers Australia A place in Lebanon along the coast of the eastern Mediterranean Sea They could convert others to Christianity New water routes were found