The major trade route established during the medieval period was the Silk Road. This extensive network of trade routes connected East Asia, particularly China, with Europe and the Middle East, facilitating not only the exchange of goods such as silk, spices, and other commodities but also ideas, technologies, and cultures. The Silk Road thrived during the height of the Byzantine and Mongol Empires, allowing for increased interaction between diverse civilizations. It played a crucial role in spreading religious beliefs, innovations like papermaking, and even contributed to the transmission of the Black Death, ultimately impacting societies far beyond its geographical boundaries.