15th centuryReputable sourceWell documented
The End of the Silk Road
On the timeline · around 15th century ·
What happened
The overland Silk Road declined as the Mongol Empire fragmented, as the plague disrupted trade, and above all as Europeans began to open sea routes to Asia. Cheaper and safer than the long caravan journey, the ocean-going ships of the age of exploration gradually replaced the ancient overland roads.
Why it matters
The waning of the Silk Road and the rise of the sea routes marked a turning point in world history — the beginning of the European maritime age that would connect the whole globe and reshape the balance of power.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Silk Road · Reputable source
Related timelines
- The Age of Exploration → — Europe's sea routes that replaced the overland road