What were the most important economic, political, and religious factors that made the so-called “Silk Roads” such an important part of Eurasian history, circa 500-1500 CE? Some specific points I would like to understand are a) the growth of the East Asian economy from 600-1300 CE; b) the growth of the Middle Eastern and Central Asian economies under the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates; c) the role of Buddhism and Islam in international trade.

What were the most important economic, political, and religious factors that made the so-called “Silk Roads” such an important part of Eurasian history, circa 500-1500 CE? Some specific points I would like to understand are a) the growth of the East Asian economy from 600-1300 CE; b) the growth of the Middle Eastern and Central Asian economies under the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates; c) the role of Buddhism and Islam in international trade.