The Silk Road was a series of land and sea routes connecting Asia to Southern Europe and Eastern Africa. The name is derived from the silk cloth hauled from China to the western markets. The Han Dynasty of China, being the primary supplier of the goods traveling along the Silk Road, played an important role in laying the foundation and promoting the various routes. It was in their interest to secure a lucrative position from this trade and resulted in the construction of the Great Wall of China. The Persians, Greeks, Romans, Indians, and Arabs became involved and benefitted from the exchange of goods and information passing in both directions. Powerful city states and empires grew and prospered along the Silk Road, each vying for a larger share of the profits and often resulted in hostilities. The Silk Road began to fall into decline in the 15th century.
