Directions: Write a well-organized 4-5 paragraph essay responding to this question Explain how the Silk Road affected Asia and Europe prior to 1500. Make sure to focus on one or more of the following topics: inventions, religion, culture, and/or diseases.

As you write, follow the directions below.
• Address all parts of the prompt.
• Include information and examples from your own knowledge of social studies.
• Use evidence from the sources, 5.01-5.02 Learn Sections and Textbook readings to support your response.

The Silk Road earned its name from Chinese silk, a highly valued commodity that merchants transported along these trade networks. Advances in technology and increased political stability caused an increase in trade.

Historically, these ideas spread along trade routes. This essay looks at the great Eurasian Silk Roads as a transmitter of people, goods, ideas, beliefs and inventions. ... Their product quickly spread by trade and imitation, and paper soon supplanted other writing materials in most of western Eurasia.

Cultural and religious exchanges began to meander along the route, acting as a connection for a global network where East and West ideologies met. ... Additionally Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Manichaeism and Nestorianism were all introduced to China and parts of India because of the Silk Roads influence.

Explanation:

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