The primary purpose of the Silk Road was to facilitate trade between the East and West, connecting China with regions in Central Asia, the Middle East, and ultimately Europe. This extensive network of trade routes, active from around 130 BCE to the 1450s CE, allowed for the exchange of goods like silk, spices, and precious metals, as well as cultural ideas, technologies, and even religions. The Silk Road not only contributed to economic prosperity but also encouraged cultural interactions among diverse civilizations, shaping the development of societies along its path.