The Silk Road was an ancient network of trade routes that connected the East and West, facilitating the exchange of goods, culture, and ideas. It began during the Han Dynasty of China around 130 BCE and continued to thrive for many centuries. Merchants traveled these routes to trade valuable items like silk, spices, and precious metals. The Silk Road was not a single road but a series of interconnected paths across Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Europe. It played a crucial role in the development of civilizations by promoting cultural interactions and the spread of technologies, religions, and languages.