The Silk Road

The Silk Road

5/29/19

This is probably my favorite part of history. This is when the world really started to trade and bargain. I would of loved to be living during this time. The people and goods that would be coming through these routes must of been so interesting. The adventures and dangers that lurked during a travel would certainly feel exhilarating. Unfortunately, this is also brings items to civilizations that cause determent.  

To be a trader during the beginning of the silk road would have been so interesting. You would see goods that you have never seen before. You would taste food that you have never tasted before. I am just picturing this path of constant caravans, with interesting people, interesting cultures, interesting clothing, and so on. You cannot help to wonder how they would interact when they came across each others path. Did they help each other out? Did they take up arms to protect themselves? Did they share food? It must of been so interesting. 

Being the adventurous business man that I am, I could see myself spending my life trading and bartering. Acquiring some goods and trading them for a profit or for a move valuable good. This is the route of business. It would be difficult to use currency since it came from so many different regions, so it would be all goods. You would have to have your sturdy cart and ways to protect your goods. What is really interesting, is that you would come across items that no one has ever seen, such as gun power. This would give you an advantage. The whole idea that silks were being made and trade along these route must have been incredible for the person who first laid eyes and felt such a beautiful material.   

Of course with the good comes the bad. You would also be introduced to disease, criminals, drugs and other items that could possibly destroy a home civilization.  You also would have rulers who conquered all the lands and then tax the merchants along the route. Black powder was the start of conventional warfare, can you imagine seeing a bomb explode for the first time - OK you win, I give up. Still yet with all the bad, it would be so great to be part of such an adventurous time and place.