Suppose you developed a map with trade routes similar to the map shown. Why did silk traders use land-based trade routes more than sea routes
Silk traders did not trust the sea captains because of pirates.
The Silk Road’s starting points were not along coastal areas.
Sea routes were too dangerous to use for luxury goods.
Silk cloth was too hard to produce and could not fill up a ship.
The choice of land-based trade routes was primarily due to Silk traders not trusting sea captains because of the prevalent problem of pirates. These pirates posed a significant threat to the safety of goods and the lives of traders, making sea routes less secure compared to land routes.
Additionally, the Silk Road's starting points were inland regions rather than coastal areas. Consequently, merchants had to transport their silk goods from the interior of China along land routes to reach the trade networks. This geographical factor made land routes a more practical and accessible option for silk traders.
Moreover, sea routes were considered too dangerous for transporting luxury goods like silk. The risk of storms, shipwrecks, and attacks from pirates further discouraged the use of sea routes. The valuable and delicate nature of silk cloth made it vulnerable to damage during long voyages by sea.
Lastly, the volume and weight of silk cloth were relatively light compared to other commodities. It would have been impractical to transport such a lightweight product by ship, which requires larger cargo capacity. Thus, land-based trade routes were more suitable for the transportation of silk because they allowed for more manageable loads and the ability to navigate through various terrains.