Advantage and disadvantages of trade on the silk route

Long-distance trade in silk began way before the establishment of the Mongolian Empire. The trade flourished despite the harsh weather conditions of the arid and semi-arid steppes of Eurasia. Silk became a figure of welfare, social class, and status in bureaucracy (Omar, 2014).

One of the advantages of the silk route was the spread of religion. Muslims, Christians, and Buddhists traded mostly in silk and gave it out as a sacred token in the process of spreading their religious beliefs. Buddhist monks traveled willingly to India whereas Islamic groups produced bulks of silk to trade in Eurasia, which facilitated the spread of religious beliefs between nations. Buddhists and Muslims spread their beliefs across India, China, and Japan (Omar, 2014).

The acquisition of technology and innovation by the East from lands in the West was another advantage of the silk route (Omar, 2014). The Steppe nomads passed on harnesses, saddles, and stirrups for use in animal transport. Mountain road construction and bridge construction was an essential addition to the people of the East.

One of the disadvantages of the silk route was the spread of diseases such as smallpox, measles, and bubonic plague. The route involved significant human traffic and hence the easy spread of communicable infections. These infections were catastrophic in Europe killing many people (Omar, 2014).

Another disadvantage was the rise of intermediaries involved in the trade. These intermediaries would charge hefty prices for the acquisition of goods hence making huge profits and start acting like bullies to the Far East countries.