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How Did Ancient Merchants Really Cross Central Asia? - The Myth of the Silk Road | Sleepy Facts About History
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The term "Silk Road" was coined in 1877 by a German geographer, but the popular image of a single, continuous highway stretching from China to Rome has always obscured the historical reality. This episode explores the actual mechanics of premodern Eurasian exchange, revealing a shifting system of overlapping caravan routes, mountain passes, and maritime connections. Most merchants never crossed the whole distance; instead, goods changed hands repeatedly at oasis markets and caravanserais…
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