Empires & Who Controlled Who

Eurasian caravan network linking Chang'an to the Mediterranean via Central Asia.

Indian Ocean sea-lane from southern China to the Persian Gulf and East Africa.

Indian Ocean spice trade from the Moluccas (Spice Islands) to Europe via Suez/Cape.

Pacific silver-for-silk run between Acapulco (Mexico) and Manila (Philippines), 1565–1815.

Europe → West Africa → Americas — manufactured goods, enslaved people, sugar/cotton/tobacco.

Camel caravans linking West African gold/salt to Mediterranean North Africa.

Northern Europe Baltic amber traded south to the Mediterranean.

Russian east-west backbone from St Petersburg/Moscow to Vladivostok.

Mediterranean–Indian Ocean shortcut; pivotal since canal opened in 1869.

Post-WWII U.S. Navy logistics chain across the Pacific to East Asian allies.