During the era of 200 B.C.E. and 1450 C.E., the silk road experienced many subtle transformations though at the same time holding on to its original reason. The trade of spices and goods in and out of Asia and Europe remained continuous, while the materials bartered slowly changed. The governmental boundaries also the national identities of the surrounding countries also were changed.
Despite changes in materials, the original drive of the silk road remained complete throughout this time period. Asian merchandises were traded with European merchants along the road and the other way around. Asia’s economy, China specifically, remained heavily dependent on the money from silk road trade, irregardless of the origin or type of goods that fueled such. Comparably, Europe’s financial status remained powered by Asian trades.
While the essential reason of the silk road continued mostly the same, the goods traded on it and the areas it went through did. While the silk road first began on a small scale as a simple way for transporting for Eurasian dealers, it later grew into an international necessity, not only economically, but in their culture too. Once exposed to Asian spices, fabrics, etc., Europeans progressively became “addicted” to their new luxuries. This, in addition to Europe having the same result on Asia, slowly shaped both cultures. Because of the many governmental changes that took place during this span of time, the route travelled by silk road merchants
