Which distance is traditionally used to approximate the length of the trade route called the Silk Road?

The term Silk Road was first used by the German geographer and traveler Ferdinand von Richthofen (1833-1905) in 1877 to describe a well-traveled pathway of trade between Western Europe and East Asia. In common parlance, we use the term Silk Road but actually, it was not a road or single route but a network or series of routes used by traders for over 1,500 years.

Traditionally the Silk Road or Roads extended approximately 6,437 km (4,000 mi) over some of the world’s most challenging landscapes including the Gobi Desert in China and Mongolia and much of the Pamir Mountains located in Tajikistan. Since the routes crossed multiple countries, and no one government had responsibility for maintenance, often the roads were in poor condition. Traders often travelled in caravans with camels or other pack animals to protect their goods from robbers.

The traded goods included silk from China that reached Europe where it dressed royalty and wealthy patrons. Other preferred commodities from Asia induced jade and various precious stones, porcelain, tea, and spices. In exchange, horses, glassware, textiles, and manufactured goods traveled eastward.

One famous traveler of the Silk Road was Marco Polo (1254-1324).

Documented evidence of one of the earliest travelers using the Silk Road were traders from the Han dynasty of China, who opened trade in 130 BCE.