What was the silk route?

The silk route was a network of all caravan paths leading from faraway China to Rome. The main route ran from East Asia through the central-Asian steppes till the Mediterranean sea. Secondary routes also ran via the Indian Ocean. The trade relations between China and the West were not direct and used many middlemen. Along with the luxury item silk, many other products such as wool, glass, porcelain, and spices were also traded. Two-humped camels, which could withstand both heat and cold, transported the goods to their destinations.