The Silk Road is the major historical trade route that connected East and West, facilitating commerce and cultural exchange. Established during the Han Dynasty of China around the 2nd century BCE, it linked China with the Mediterranean, allowing for the exchange of goods such as silk, spices, precious metals, and textiles. This route also enabled the transfer of ideas, technologies, and cultural practices, significantly impacting the civilizations it connected. The Silk Road fostered economic ties and intercultural interactions for centuries, playing a crucial role in the development of trade and cultural relationships between diverse regions.