The Silk Road— another wonder in human history
Long ago，trade brought treasures from the East to the West. They were looking for new and amazing goods to sell. Trips to the East became more favorable when traders found silk and spices. These treasures were not the normal goods that were easy to get in the West at that time. Many people wanted them so it became a good way to become rich.
The Silk Road was not a real road. It was a route between the East and West. It went through China，Turkey and Greece. Some traders traveled over land. Others sailed across the sea. There was danger along both routes.
Traders who went over the land used camels and horses. These animals carried heavy loads which made the trips manageable. First，the traders crossed the desert. Then，they climbed over mountains. After that，the traders still had hundreds of miles to go. Bad weather was often a problem. There were desert sandstorms. The mountains had snowstorms. Robbers also caused trouble. They stole the silk and spices.
Traders who crossed the sea faced some of the same problems. There were storms on the sea. Water and winds could push the boats in the wrong direction. Sometimes the ships crashed and the storms took control of the ships. Few traders gave up their trips on the Silk Road，though. They kept getting wealthier.
Many people liked silk. It came from China. Silk was made from the cocoons of silkworms. Workers pulled threads off the cocoons. They wove it into material. The cloth was light and soft and it was comfortable to wear. Some traders tried to take silkworms out of China.
Over time，the Silk Road changed people in both the East and West. Traders shared stories about faraway lands. They brought back drawings of the places and things they had seen. It helped people learn about new customs and beliefs. As a result of the Silk Road，the world seemed much smaller.
