3000 Silk first produced in China.
1500 Nomadic tribes inhabit steppes.
750 Rome founded.
560 Buddha born in Nepal.
400 Alexander the Great's empire expands into Asia.
300 Roman expansion begins.
Parthians establish their empire in Mesopotamia and Persia.
Han dynasty completes Great Wall to defend against nomads.
Paper first made in China.
200 Greek city-states come under Roman rule.
China opens trade routes to the West.

100
BC

 

 Parthians rout Romans at Carrhae, the worst defeat in their history. During this battle, the Parthians carried shimmering silk banners. Interest in Europe grew for this material and trade routes were extended from Persia to Western Europe. This effectively marked the beginnings of Silk Road trade.

AD
100

 Death of Jesus. Spread of Christianity begins.
Buddhism migrates from India into Central Asia and China.
Roman empire becomes a major market for Eastern goods.
Empires of Rome, Parthia, Kusha, and China bring stability to the trade routes.
300 Constantinople becomes Rome's capital. Christianity becomes its official religion.
Huns attack Europe. Roman Empire splits in two.
400 Chinese princess smuggles silkworm eggs out of China. Silkworm farms appear in Central Asia.
Visigoths invade Italy and Spain, Western Roman Empire collapses.
600 The Silk Road reaches its golden age.
Death of Muhammad. Spread of Islam begins.
700 Arabs capture Chinese paper makers, bring paper to Central Asia and Europe.
Printing, glass making, and gunpowder developed in China.
1000 Genghis Khan unites Mongols, expands empire over central and western Asia.
Paper money first developed in China.
1200 Mongols invade Russia, Poland, and Hungary.
Silk road trade prospers again under "Pax Mongolica."
Marco Polo begins his journey.
1300 Turkish Ottoman Empire rises.
Mongol ruler Tamerlane conquers northern India, Persia, southern Russia, then defeats the Ottomans.
The Plague starts in China, spreads quickly via the Silk Road, reaching Europe. 75 million people die within 4 years.
1400 Death of Tamerlane, Mongol power declines.
Renaissance period begins in Europe.
Vasco da Gama discovers the sea route around Africa.
Europe shifts global trade to sea-faring vessels.
China closes its doors to foreigners.
The Silk Road's trade network dwindles.
  Excerpt -"The Silk Road Chronology" by the Silk Road Foundation.

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