How did the silk road get its name??

The silk road is not really made of silk. Sooooo how DID it get its name???  Well... China's most successful export is silk. Many people from China traded silk on the Silk Road. Also from the Shang empire on, the Chinese exported loads of silk to the rest of Asia and some of Europe. So, since silk was such an important part of trade along these routes it only makes sense that it is called the silk road even though it is NOT made of silk. :)

What is the silk road??

The route that Chang Chien took developed into the silk road. This is a series of roads all the stinkin' way from China across Asia. People with camels and in caravans would travel along the roads to trade their goods with other people. It was traded upon for over 1500 years. The people of Asia could get what they needed and go home along these routes. That is why it remained a trade route for so long. That is what the silk road is.