This map indicates trading routes used around the 1st century CE centred on the Silk Road. The routes remain largely valid for the period 520 BCE to 500 CE.
Geographical labels for regions are adapted from the Geography of Ptolemy (c. 150 CE), some trading centre names date from later (c. 400 CE). Relying on Ptolemy's names is wrong but neutral.
The following contemporary trading centres (or possible trading centres) are not marked:
Silk Road - Ecbatana, Yarkand, Jiaohei, Kitai, Kaifeng. (Note - both summer and winter routes around the Takla Makan are shown)
China - Chengdu, Kunming, Cattgara
South East Asia - Trang, Thaton
The routes between most of these unindicated sites are not marked, notably the extensive European/Roman routes and the other routes in Persia beyond the Silk Road. Another route not indicated is the Scythian route running from China to the Black Sea. The large number not marked on India are the minor sites listed in the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea.
== Licensing == {{GFDL-self}} == Map information == This map indicates trading routes used around the 1st century CE centred on the Silk Road. The routes remain largely valid for the period 500 BCE to 500 CE. Geographical labels for regions are adap