Key Traders
Key Traders
The Silk Road thrived because of the many people
and groups who played key roles in trade:
- Han Dynasty (202 BCE–220 CE): Built and
protected routes, especially in southern Xinjiang, and promoted
luxury goods like glass beads (Wang et al., 2025).
- Nomadic tribes (e.g., Xiongnu): Skilled
fighters who also transported rare items like natron glass, using
mobility to link distant lands.
- Central Asian merchants (Sogdians):
Expert middlemen trading glassware, clothing, and other valuables
between East and West.
- Oasis towns (Loulan, Khotan, Niya):
Important stops where artisans produced glass, stones, fabrics, and
imitation turquoise beads blending local and foreign styles.
