The historic trade route that connected Europe and Asia is known as the Silk Road. Established during the Han Dynasty of China around 130 BCE, this network of trade routes facilitated not only the exchange of goods such as silk, spices, and precious metals but also cultural, technological, and religious exchanges between the continents. The Silk Road linked various civilizations, fostering significant economic and cultural interactions. Despite its decline with the rise of maritime trade routes in the late Middle Ages, it remains a symbol of East-West connections throughout history.