The Silk Road, an ancient network of trade routes, connected the East and West, primarily facilitating the exchange of goods, culture, and ideas. The two ends of the Silk Road can be identified as:
- Chang’an (modern-day Xi’an, China): This city served as the eastern terminus of the Silk Road. It was a bustling hub of commerce and culture during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE). Chang’an was instrumental in the establishment of trade routes that stretched across Asia and into Europe.
- Antioch (modern-day Antakya, Turkey): Located near the eastern Mediterranean, Antioch was one of the western endpoints of the Silk Road. It acted as a significant trade center where goods from the East were transferred to ships bound for Europe and other regions.
These two cities not only represented the geographical ends of the Silk Road but also symbolized the rich cultural and economic exchanges that occurred along this ancient route.