ancient trade networks

Ancient trade networks were complex systems through which goods, ideas, and cultures were exchanged across vast distances. Caravans, ships, and trade routes connected regions like the Silk Road in Asia, the Mediterranean Sea, and the trans-Saharan routes in Africa. Merchants traded commodities such as spices, textiles, precious metals, and agricultural products. These networks facilitated not only economic transactions but also cultural exchanges, spreading innovations, religions, and knowledge between civilizations. The interconnectivity fostered by these trade routes played a crucial role in shaping political, social, and economic landscapes throughout history.