Bridging the Eastern and Western Hemispheres

The Silk Road closed or 'bridged' the gap between the Eastern and Western zones. The Silk Road allowed the Chinese to export and distribute their goods to the western side of the world. The contact that the Chinese provided for the other cultures allowed people and societies to get a 'taste' of other cultures and the Silk Road made this possible. Originally, having cross-cultural contact was very limited and localized between cities and societies. The Silk Road expanded the trade between cultures, broadening its liminality. New technology and 'strong' states are what drives this network and continues to make the trade work successfully. Many important goods that were useful and needed were traded along the Silk Road. These products were spices such as pepper and ginger, cotton, pearls and jewelry, and of course, silk. Without the Silk Road, expansion of cultures could not have happened. This trade network opened many opportunites for the East and the Western states. The Silk Road is a great example of cross-cultural contact.