Silk Sand and Sea roads

The silk roads were trade and exchange routes across Eurasia and had impacts on everything from culture to disease. The goods transported on these routes where mainly silk and goods for the wealthy. They were transported by horseback and in small amounts so only people who had money could really benefit from these goods. The silk roads where beneficial to many and helped spread religion. Buddhism for example flourished along these routes. Monks would build monasteries along the roads and would provide places of rest and protection to travelers and traders.

The sea roads were similar to the silk roads but were sea based and linked people all across the eastern hemisphere by sea routes. They were able to transfer much larger amounts than the Silk roads or Sand roads because the ships could hold much more than camels or horses. The goods transported by ship on the sea roads were much more varied and benefited many people. Ship building and navigational improved greatly as successful journeys depended on good ships and good directions.

The sand roads were roads across the Sahara that linked North Africa and the Mediterranean to the peoples of West Africa. The main goods transported along these roads were gold, salt, and dates among other goods native to the area. The goods where mainly transported by camels as they were perfect for desert journeys where water was sparse; however in some spots small boats where utilized.