Silk Road Help

No problem. Glad to help :)

Dyes are good because they can be traded in both directions. Raw dyestuffs in exchange for finished, dyed and woven cloth. Same with minerals like cobalt. Much of the cobalt used in Chinese porcelain came from Central Asia, I think, and the finished porcelain later traveled back west along the Silk Road. I'm not sure alcohol would travel well on land. Liquid is heavy and awkward to transport in caravans.
I'd think that alcohol would still be transported, as it had demand.
 
At times of massive distubance like our Dark Ages, everything had to move in massive caravans to get through. And massive bribes as well; a long route will take most of the anyplace without pretty good honesty.

And on land speed, steppe nomads regularly at least as fastg via remounts and fast horses. But only light goods or horses could travel fast, of course.

Also:

Horses

Pigs and chickens and their preserved meat

Flours

Cannons

Silk, oh, yeah, and clothes

Tea
 
I'd think that alcohol would still be transported, as it had demand.
There's demand, yeah, but it's ridiculously easy and far more economical to make locally. Basically anything with sugar ferments: fruit, grain, honey, milk, roots etc.
 

trajen777

Banned
Good book http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-silk-road-valerie-hansen/1111125293

This details how the silk road (land route) was really a regional (100 mlles by 100 mie) route with hardly any cross contenient trade -- very little of value was pased down the route - this was basked upon archelogical digs - almost all the silk found was in tiny rolls which was used as pay to the various troops in border forts - lots of Chinese docs have been found showing how little trade went forth - most of it was by the sea route --- i found this very supriseing as the "historical contex" was different from my perception -- really Jem stones are the only transportable option from a weight / transport situation
 
There's demand, yeah, but it's ridiculously easy and far more economical to make locally. Basically anything with sugar ferments: fruit, grain, honey, milk, roots etc.

During peacetime the amount transported would be small; mostly the more exotic and/or expensive varieties for consumption by the upper classes. If the region is suffering from natural disaster (drought, fire, flood) or being fought over local production will be reduced and imports increased.
 
Good book http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-silk-road-valerie-hansen/1111125293

This details how the silk road (land route) was really a regional (100 mlles by 100 mie) route with hardly any cross contenient trade -- very little of value was pased down the route - this was basked upon archelogical digs - almost all the silk found was in tiny rolls which was used as pay to the various troops in border forts - lots of Chinese docs have been found showing how little trade went forth - most of it was by the sea route --- i found this very supriseing as the "historical contex" was different from my perception -- really Jem stones are the only transportable option from a weight / transport situation

Not surprising at all, really. Why travel to the city to trade if I can sell my products in the village market? The list I gave above shows the sort of items which were traded over long distances - small, light, non-perishable, and high value.

Another factor inhibiting long distance trade is uncertainty. The further you travel, the greater the risk of loss from theft, accident, or other misfortune.

Also not touched on is the issue of taxes and fees. Want to use my road? Pay up. Pass over my bridge or through my gate? Pay up. Set up a stall in my market? Pay up. Sell your merchandise in my town? Pay up. The further you travel, the more palms you have to grease.
 
During peacetime the amount transported would be small; mostly the more exotic and/or expensive varieties for consumption by the upper classes. If the region is suffering from natural disaster (drought, fire, flood) or being fought over local production will be reduced and imports increased.

Kinda disappointing.
 
Kinda disappointing.

Perhaps, but what did you expect? Long distance overland transport is expensive, even today; bulk commodities like beer and wine simply don't generate enough profit to warrant exporting them to distant lands. To warrant transporting goods such distances they have to bring large profits; in practice only luxury and specialty goods qualify.

Before the Industrial Revolution and the introduction of railroads the only means of transporting such commodities was by sea. The Silk Road existed because there was no sea access to most of the areas traversed by it; had there been most trade would have gone by water instead and the road would have been mere paths used only by the locals.
 
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