Central Asia's vast land is home to many nomadic societies . These societies would rely on pastoralism economies.This reliance made members of these societies on using pack animals such as horses, camels, and oxen. These animals were used for transportation and would have the potential to combine with vast profits for trade in glassware,silk,cotton cloths,perfumes, spices and slaves.This all led to the rise of the Silk Road. The silk road operated in two main phases (100 BCE - 800 CE). During this period this trade route linked the Chinese Dynasties to the Roman Empire, the Indian Empire, and the Persians. The silk road also peaked again in 1200-1500
The Silk road originally was a relay system with each merchant only traveling a short distance to move things. Because Of this many major trading cities such as Chang’an, Samarkand, and Bukhara. Though it was rare for merchants to travel all the way but when they did their culture (religion and technology) would spread. For instance this is how Buddhism and Christianity spread and how horse technology spread to China. Crops such as alfalfa, grapes, peaches, apricots, rice and cotton spread to Rome,China, and The Middle East