The Silk Road was formally established during China’s Han Dynasty in 130 BC with Emperor Wu’s pursuit to acquire the legendary Ferghana horses to improve his cavalry’s chances of survival against marauding nomads. It spun tales of intrepid explorers such as Marco Polo, Zhang Qian and Ibn Battuta but also led to a constant stream of clashes between civilisations.
For 1,500 years, caravans traversed the Silk Road, ferrying precious metals, spices and other goods to China and returning with bales of silk prized by rich Romans, Egyptians and Greeks.
The trade went on until the middle of the 15th century when the Ottomans, taking advantage of its geography, stifled trade flow with heavy levies. This inspired European traders to look seaward, leading to the eventual discovery of America and proving that the earth was indeed a sphere.
