Silk Road, Maritime (MSR)

The Silk Road is a collective name given to the world’s oldest and most historically important overland trade route linking China and Central Asia. As land trade became more dangerous, the comparable maritime trade route linking the East and the West referred to as the “Maritime Silk Road” or “Silk Road on the Sea” began to flourish. By the end of the 14th century, although China continued to maintain a silk and fur trade with Russians, travel along the original Silk Road had decreased significantly.

The Maritime Silk Road originated from Quanzhou Fujian Province and was formed in the Qin and Han dynasties, developed through the Sui dynasty, flourished in the Tang and Song dynasties, and fell into decline in the Ming and Qing dynasties. The ...