The Silk Roads were a network of trade routes that connected the East and West, facilitating the exchange of goods, culture, and ideas from around 130 BCE to the 1450s CE. Named for the lucrative silk trade, these routes linked major civilizations, including China, India, the Middle East, and Europe. Merchants traveled across vast distances, transporting not only silk but also spices, precious metals, and other commodities. The Silk Roads also played a crucial role in the spread of religions, technologies, and innovations, influencing societies and economies along the way.