Recent Textile Discovered in Nepal Sheds Light on How Far South the Silk Road Actually Extended

Thanks to a recent discovery in Nepal, it is now believed that the historic trade route known as the Silk Road extended further South than originally believed.  The Silk Road extended from China to the Mediterranean, acting as a trade route for goods including silk and spices, as well as cultures, beliefs, and ideas. 

Determining the exact geographic scope of the Silk Road has been a challenge.  Heritage Daily reports that a textile discovered in Upper Mustang, Nepal, was recently analyzed, and may shed some light on how far South the Silk Road extended.  The materials found within the textile include components not local to the area.  It is believed that for those materials to be present in textiles discovered in Upper Mustang, they must have been imported from China and India via the Silk Road.

The Silk Road was established during the Han Dynasty of China, between the second century BC and the 14^th century AD.  Zhang Qian of the Western Han Dynasty created the initial route, and additional routes were added over time throughout the Han Dynasty.  The Silk Road reached its peak during the Tang Dynasty, as society and the economy flourished, and began to descend during the Yuan Dynasty.