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The Silk Road was an ancient trade route from East China to Central Asia and Europe. The Silk Road was influential because it brought material goods like grapes, cotton, chestnuts, lucerne, pomegranates, as well as false religions like Buddhism to China; and it led to the westward spread of Chinese technology like silkworm breeding, iron smelting, and papermaking.

The '''Silk Road''' was an ancient trade route from East [[China]] to Central [[Asia]] and [[Europe]]. The Silk Road was influential because it brought material goods like [[grapes]], [[cotton]], [[chestnut]]s, [[lucerne]], [[pomegranate]]s, as well as false religions like [[Buddhism]] to China; and it led to the westward spread of Chinese technology like silkworm breeding, iron smelting, and papermaking.

The Silk road ran for 5,000 miles across Asia and increased trade in [[silk]] and fine goods between [[Asia]] and [[Europe]]. Merchants did not travel the entire length, goods were passed on by middle-men who extracted large sums of money for their services. There is no general consensus as to the date when the silk road began, but silk from China arrived in Rome before the first century A.D. Although the volume of trade fluctuated across time, the Silk Road remained an important trade route until the anti-[[Ch'ing]] revolution of 1911.

The Silk road ran for 5,000 miles across Asia and increased trade in [[silk]] and fine goods between [[Asia]] and [[Europe]]. Merchants did not travel the entire length, goods were passed on by middle-men who extracted large sums of money for their services. There is no general consensus as to the date when the silk road began, but [[silk]] from China arrived in Rome before the first century A.D. Although the volume of trade fluctuated across time, the Silk Road remained an important trade route until the anti-[[Ch'ing]] revolution of 1911.

In addition to material goods, ideas were also passed along the Silk Road. Buddhism entered China due to trade along the [[Silk Road]], beginning during the [[Song dynasty]]. [[Christianity]] also penetrated China for the first time thanks to the Silk Road, which brought [[Nestorian Christianity|Nestorian Christians]] to the Chinese capital of [[Beijing]] during the [[T'ang dynasty]]. [1]

In addition to material goods, ideas were also passed along the Silk Road. Buddhism entered China due to trade along the [[Silk Road]], beginning during the [[Song dynasty]]. [[Christianity]] also penetrated China for the first time thanks to the Silk Road, which brought [[Nestorian Christianity|Nestorian Christians]] to the Chinese capital of [[Beijing]] during the [[T'ang dynasty]]. [1]