What routes were utilized for romantrade with china?

Check these maps.

http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUS374&q=silk+road+route&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=PhFBTIacGoT78AbYqYwX&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CB8QsAQwAA

To understand the routes utilized for Roman trade with China, we need to explore the historical context and the geographical factors that shaped these trade routes. The Romans and the Chinese had minimal direct contact since they were separated by vast distances and various other empires.

During the ancient Roman Empire (27 BCE-476 CE), there were two significant trade routes that facilitated indirect trade between Rome and China: the Silk Road and the Maritime Silk Road.

1. Silk Road: The Silk Road was a network of ancient trade routes that connected East Asia, Central Asia, and the Mediterranean. This land-based route covered over 4,000 miles and allowed for the exchange of goods, ideas, and technologies among different civilizations. While silk was one of the most sought-after products from China, various other commodities were also traded, including spices, precious metals, jade, tea, and porcelain.

The Roman Empire's trade with China mainly occurred through intermediaries like Parthians and Sasanians (Persian Empires) and later through the Sassanian-controlled Central Asian regions. Roman merchants would trade their goods with these intermediaries at various trading hubs along the Silk Road, such as Palmyra (Syria), Samarkand (Uzbekistan), and Kashgar (China). These intermediaries would then continue the journey to the eastern borders of China.

2. Maritime Silk Road: While overland trade existed, maritime trade routes were also utilized by the Romans to reach China. The Roman Empire had a significant naval presence in the Indian Ocean, and they established trade connections with India and Southeast Asia. From these regions, goods were transported to China by sea.

Roman traders would sail from the Red Sea, through the Arabian Sea, and then into the Indian Ocean, reaching trading ports like Musiris (present-day Kerala, India), Arikamedu (present-day Tamil Nadu, India), and Tamralipta (present-day West Bengal, India). From there, they would have connected with Chinese merchants who traded at various ports along the Chinese coast.

Overall, the trade routes for Roman trade with China primarily involved the combination of overland travel along the Silk Road and maritime navigation in the Indian Ocean to reach different regions and eventually establish trade connections with China.