NCERT · Class 10 · Social Science · History: The Making of a Global WorldWhat were the 'Silk Routes' and why were they significant in the pre-modern world?

The silk routes were a vast network of ancient overland and maritime trade routes that connected Asia with Europe and Northern Africa. They are highly significant because they facilitated not only the trade of Chinese silk, Indian spices, and Western goods but also served as crucial pathways for cultural, religious, and technological exchange, including the spread of Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam across different continents before the modern era.