The ancient trade route that connected China with the Mediterranean world is known as the Silk Road. Established during the Han Dynasty around the 2nd century BCE, the Silk Road was a network of interconnected trade routes that facilitated not only the exchange of silk but also spices, precious metals, and cultural ideas. It enabled the flow of goods and knowledge between East and West, linking disparate civilizations, including China, India, Persia, and the Roman Empire. The Silk Road had a profound influence on the development of both economic and cultural exchanges, shaping the history of the regions it traversed.