Per. 1
CCOT Rewrite

A bridge between different lands from the year 200 BCE to 1450 CE, the Silk Roads experienced many patterns of interaction. During this period of time, the roads changed such as the amount they were used, which changed as nations and empires rose and fell; the goods and ideas that traveled the roads after Europe and Asia increased their trading; and lastly the safety of the roads varied throughout this time period. However, the Silk Roads still experienced many continuities as well, for example their original purpose which was to facilitate the exchange of goods between Asia and Europe never changed; they continued to influence many cultures especially with the traveling of religions; and the Silk Roads have always had long term affects and influence on powerful empires. Towards the beginning of their patterns of interaction in 200 BCE, the Silk Roads were minimally used in East Asia. As time progresses, the roads increase as did empires such as Rome and Han who grew both economically and culturally due to usage of the roads. But, instability and economic pressures took a toll on the two empires, and when Rome fell in 476, the Silk Roads were used far less than how they originally were. The roads managed to pick up again as the Byzantine Empire in the east emerged and was able to prosper from usage of the already available roads. However, the Mongols come into play and invade the empire and end Byzantine’s era with the Silk Roads. In Western Europe, society was in the period called the Middle Ages where trade was minimal and feudalism/manorialism had taken the place of trade since the fall of the Roman empire. The Mongols, who had invaded Europe, are determined to strengthen the roads again and expand trade, which they do successfully and also manage to dethrone the Islamic powers who had previously dominated world trade. Also