The document discusses the Silk Road, an ancient network of trade routes connecting China to the Mediterranean region. It details how the Silk Road facilitated cultural exchange and the spread of religions from its inception in the 2nd century BC until its decline in the late Middle Ages. Specifically, it highlights that the Silk Road's peak was during the Tang Dynasty in China when the capital Changan became a cosmopolitan center of trade. It then describes how the fragmentation of the Mongol Empire and outbreaks of plague contributed to the Silk Road's fading importance by the 15th century. The document concludes by noting growing modern interest in restoring and promoting tourism along the historic Silk Road trade routes.

1. International Trade
Silk Road
Presentation by Petras Zibolis
VVEK TAK-10

2. Content
 What is Silk Road  Renewing the trade
 Cultural exchange  Present day
 Nature of the route  Restoration and
 Development of the tourism
route
 Best years
 Mongols
 Decline of the route

3. Silk Road
 It is a network of
interlinking trade routes
across the Afro-Eurasia
 Extending 6,500 km
 Silk Road gets its name
from the lucrative
Chinese silk trade

4. Cultural exchange
 Silk Road spread and
intermixed ideas
religions and cultures

5. Nature of the route
 There was no single
route
 All routes started from
capital in Changan
 Many other
commodities were also
traded

6. Development of the route
 Policing the route was
troublesome
 Built defensive forts
and walls
 This way spread
Christianity

7. Best Silk Roads years
 Changan developed
into biggest and most
cosmopolitan city of
that time
 Many foreigners lived
in the city

8. Mongols
 More symphatetic to
religion
 Continued trading
along the Silk Road
 Marco Polo travels

9. Decline of the Route
 Mongol empire
fragmented
 Black death affected
the routes and trades
 Mercantilism spread
from the west

10. Renewing the trade
 After Mongols Silk
Road dissapears
 Portugese look for a
way to renew trade
routes
 This resulted in first
maritime trade post
Europe China

11. Present day
 Silk Road is becoming
important again due to
railways between
Euroasia

12. Restoration and tourism
 Interest in this ancient
trade route grows
 People are inspired by
Marco Polo
 Archaeological
excavations have
been started