Silk Road Caravan Network in the 17th Century

Timeline

1. 1630Tarim Basin oasis trade routes · Tarim BasinIn the 1630s the overland Silk Road mainly followed alternating oasis-desert routes; caravans assembled in places such as Kashgar and Yarkand, transferring jade, furs, and Central Asian goods via Yarkand and Khotan toward Hexi and the Central Plains, connecting with Persian-Indian trade routes.
2. 1631Jiayuguan-Hami segment · GansuCaravans consisted of camel owners, guards, and interpreters, resupplying water and fodder along Ming-era post roads and inns; in the 1630s, amid the Ming's fall and the Qing's rise, Hexi checkpoint controls changed frequently, and caravans had to adjust clearance and escort arrangements based on local power and tribal relations.
3. 1635Bukhara-Samarkand commercial centers · TransoxianaIn the 1630s bulk goods between Europe and China increasingly flowed via the Cape of Good Hope and Malacca sea routes; overland caravans shifted to high-value, small-batch goods and interregional relay, with commercial centers such as Bukhara still serving as camel caravan distribution hubs for Central Asia-Persia-Mughal trade.