Trade routes are paths used to move goods between different regions. They can be found on land, across deserts, and over oceans. These routes have connected people and places for thousands of years.

Caravans traveled across land routes such as the Silk Road, while ships carried goods across seas like the Indian Ocean. Items such as silk, spices, gold, and textiles moved along these paths. Markets and cities often grew along important trade routes.

Trade routes are studied through maps, records, and archaeological evidence. They show how different civilizations were linked through exchange.