The trade route that connected Europe and Asia, fostering cultural exchange, is known as the Silk Road. This network of trade paths emerged during the Han Dynasty and flourished throughout the centuries, facilitating the exchange of goods like silk, spices, and precious metals. Beyond commerce, the Silk Road also enabled the spread of ideas, culture, religion, and technology, significantly influencing the civilizations it connected, such as the Chinese, Persian, Indian, and various European societies.