jan 1, 500 BC - Early Pre-Silk Road Trade Begins – (c. 500 BCE)

Description:

By around 500 BCE, early trade routes were forming across Central Asia, connecting China with Persia, India, and the Mediterranean. These routes would later become known as the Silk Road, named for the valuable silk traded from China. Along with goods like spices, glass, and horses, the Silk Road also carried ideas, religions, and technologies, helping to link distant civilizations and shape the ancient world.

Added to timeline:

Date: