Now living in the twenty-first century we can take modern methods of travel such as planes, vehicles, trains and ships for granted, significantly altering our perception of the distance we travel. These advanced distribution systems that we now use allow us to exchange culture, products, technology and ideas by breaking down barriers, truly globalizing the world. Similar to the wonders of modern travel that we make the most of today, years ago before the relationship between man and machine, the Silk Road provided the ability to connect multiple countries. This important trade route developed over time, transferring numerous products such as silk from China to various countries in the Middle East, the Mediterranean, Europe and ancient India. Furthermore, the Silk Road was much more than just a trade route that brought products to and from as it developed into a transcontinental network that carried goods, information, religion, language, and technology. The Silk Road is indisputably one of the oldest international trade routes. consisting of a series of roads arranged mainly on land, until the introduction of maritime navigation. What started the extraordinary interest in trade was one of the oldest fibers known to man, silk, originally from China. Silk is a luxury fabric that can be woven into fabrics, producing a rich texture and luster like no other material. Dating back to 2500 BC, this exotic material was used exclusively for Chinese royalty, but gradually expanded to become a more important part of Chinese culture. Since this unique material was considered more valuable than gold at the time, as soon as the news spread to neighboring countries, overwhelming interest was inevitable. The demand for this attractive material has brought silk into Western warfare... into the middle of paper... into research. Network. May 14, 2012. "History of Silk: History of Silk Fabric; History of Chinese Silk; History of the Silk Road History of Silk." History of silk: history of silk fabric; History of Chinese Silk; History of the Silk Road History of Silk. TexereSilk, 2011. Web. May 14, 2012. “Silk Road: Its History, Development, Operation, and Significance for the East and the West.” Silk Road: Its history, development, functioning and significance for the East and the West. Network. May 14, 2012. “Silk Road Cultural Exchange, Religion, and Technology Introduced to China via the Silk Road.” TravelChinaGuide. Network. May 14 2012. .