Silk Road and Indian Ocean

Silk Road: unsettled deserts, mountains and grassland
The Silk Road was a social system as all kinds of people would travel the Silk Road. It was a place where exchange of ideas and goos occurred. Sometimes, a traded item of idea would affect an entire society. Nomads acquired metal implements from trade and made them into tools and weapons. Sasanid Empire and Byzantines traded with one another during peace. They traded things such as camel saddles and tools that benefitted each empire. Religion played a big part in communities. These religions spread through the Silk Road.

Indian Ocean Maritime System: Indian Ocean and South China Sea
This trade network did not play a big role in the rise and falls of empires but did connect the coastal lands. The sailors from different part of the system had different kinds of sailboats which shows the difference in development. The Indian Ocean trade network involved many big valuable products. However, the geography of each area and port made the volume of trade lesser than other forms of trading routes.