File:Silk Route by the side of Indus River.jpg

English: The Silk Road or Silk Route is a term which refers to the complex historical network of ancient trade routes across the Afro landmass of Eurasian which connected East, South, and Western Asia with the Mediterranean and European world in the past and to some extent even today. It also connected parts of North and East Africa. Making the route Extending to 4,000 miles or 6,500 kilometers. The name Silk Road originates from the lucrative Chinese silk trade along this wide route. Silk trade began during the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) during 114BC the central Asian sections of the trade routes were expanded as per the the missions and explorations of Zhang Qian.

Trade on the Silk Road played a significant role in the development of the civilizations of China, Pakistan, India, Persia, Europe and even Arabia. Not only Silk was traded but the route also transported many other goods. Besides trade the Silkroad also helped transfer various technologies, religions and philosophies, culture, art, historical records as well as the bubonic plague (the "Black Death"), also traveled along the Silk Routes.

The route was used earlier times by Indian and Bactrian traders, then from the 5th to the 8th century the Sogdian traders, then afterward the Arab and Persian traders.