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This article is about the technology in Age of Empires II HD: The Forgotten. For the map in Age of Mythology: Tale of the Dragon and Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties, see Silk Road (map).

Silk Road is a technology in Age of Empires II HD: The Forgotten that is unique to the Italians and can be researched at the Castle once the Imperial Age is reached. Once researched, it halves the cost of Trade Carts and Trade Cogs.

Strategy[]

While not being of much use outside of team games, Silk Road can save a lot of resources down the line in games where trade is important. If a trade route gets destroyed and needs to be re-established, then Silk Road softens the blow significantly. Also, with Shipwright and Silk Road, Trade Cogs only cost 40 wood, 25 gold, and they move extremely fast. This makes them excellent naval scouts.

Team bonuses[]

History[]

The Silk Road was a trading route, beginning in China and created during the Han Dynasty, which acted as the main artery of trade throughout Eurasia. Running through its veins were not only Asian luxuries and European staples, but ideas, religions, and even disease. From 200 BC to 1450 AD, the Silk Road's patterns of interactions changed with the Black Plague and the spread of Islam and Buddhism. For almost 1700 years the Silk Road was the biggest world trade network. It was not actually one single road but a wide network, that is why historians prefer to use the term "Silk Routes".

Catalan Atlas caravan drawing

Marco Polo's caravan on the Silk Road, 1380

The economic exchange of trading goods produced a network of trade centers and cities. Traders passed through the great mountain ranges of the Tien Shan, Karakorams, and Hindu Kush and skirted inhospitable deserts, such as the Taklamakan and Gobi. Caravanserais, rest stops along the Silk Roads, allowed travelers to exchange ideas and innovations and created awareness of different cultures and religions. By the time of the Roman Emperor Augustus (r. 27 BCE – 14 CE) trade between China and the west was firmly established and silk was the most sought-after commodity in Egypt, Greece, and, especially, in Rome.

Other valuable commodities were paper, gunpowder, spices, tea, ivory, cotton, wool, precious metals, ideas, and information. Durant writes, "Italy enjoyed an 'unfavorable' balance of trade – cheerfully [buying] more than she sold" but still exported rich goods to China such as "carpets, jewels, amber, metals, dyes, drugs, and glass". In the 13th and 14th centuries, the Venetian traveler Marco Polo traveled to China using the route. The Byzantine emperor Justinian (r. 527- 565 CE), tired of paying the exorbitant prices the Chinese demanded for silk, sent two emissaries, disguised as monks, to China to steal silkworms and smuggle them back to the west. The plan was successful and initiated the Byzantine silk industry. When the Byzantine Empire fell to the Turks in 1453 CE, the Ottoman Empire closed the ancient routes of the Silk Road and cut all ties with the west, which initiated the maritime Age of Discovery and the start of colonialism.

Gallery[]

Further reading[]

Unique technologies in Age of Empires II
AoE2-DLCicon-0 The Age of Kings civilizations
UniqueTechCastle-DECivIcon-Britons Yeomen · CivIcon-Byzantines Greek Fire · CivIcon-Celts Stronghold · CivIcon-Chinese Great Wall · CivIcon-Franks Bearded Axe · CivIcon-Goths Anarchy · CivIcon-Japanese Yasama · CivIcon-Mongols Nomads · CivIcon-Persians Kamandaran · CivIcon-Saracens Bimaristan · CivIcon-Teutons Ironclad · CivIcon-Turks Sipahi · CivIcon-Vikings Chieftains
UniqueTechImperialDECivIcon-Britons Warwolf · CivIcon-Byzantines Logistica · CivIcon-Celts Furor Celtica · CivIcon-Chinese Rocketry · CivIcon-Franks Chivalry · CivIcon-Goths Perfusion · CivIcon-Japanese Kataparuto · CivIcon-Mongols Drill · CivIcon-Persians Citadels · CivIcon-Saracens Counterweights · CivIcon-Teutons Crenellations · CivIcon-Turks Artillery · CivIcon-Vikings Bogsveigar
AoE2-DLCicon-1 The Conquerors civilizations
UniqueTechCastle-DECivIcon-Aztecs Atlatl · CivIcon-Huns Marauders · CivIcon-Koreans Eupseong · CivIcon-Mayans Hul'che Javelineers · CivIcon-Spanish Inquisition
UniqueTechImperialDECivIcon-Aztecs Garland Wars · CivIcon-Huns Atheism · CivIcon-Koreans Shinkichon · CivIcon-Mayans El Dorado · CivIcon-Spanish Supremacy
AoE2-DLCicon-2 The Forgotten civilizations
UniqueTechCastle-DECivIcon-Incas Andean Sling · CivIcon-Italians Pavise · CivIcon-Magyars Corvinian Army · CivIcon-Slavs Detinets
UniqueTechImperialDECivIcon-Incas Fabric Shields · CivIcon-Italians Silk Road · CivIcon-Magyars Recurve Bow · CivIcon-Slavs Druzhina
AoE2-DLCicon-3 The African Kingdoms civilizations
UniqueTechCastle-DECivIcon-Berbers Kasbah · CivIcon-Ethiopians Tigui · CivIcon-Malians Royal Heirs · CivIcon-Portuguese Carrack
UniqueTechImperialDECivIcon-Berbers Maghrebi Camels · CivIcon-Ethiopians Farimba · CivIcon-Malians Torsion Engines · CivIcon-Portuguese Arquebus
AoE2-DLCicon-4 Rise of the Rajas civilizations
UniqueTechCastle-DECivIcon-Burmese Howdah · CivIcon-Khmer Tusk Swords · CivIcon-Malay Thalassocracy · CivIcon-Vietnamese Chatras
UniqueTechImperialDECivIcon-Burmese Manipur Cavalry · CivIcon-Khmer Double Crossbow · CivIcon-Malay Forced Levy · CivIcon-Vietnamese Paper Money
AoE2-DLCicon-5 The Last Khans civilizations
UniqueTechCastle-DECivIcon-Bulgarians Stirrups · CivIcon-Cumans Steppe Husbandry · CivIcon-Lithuanians Hill Forts · CivIcon-Tatars Silk Armor
UniqueTechImperialDECivIcon-Bulgarians Bagains · CivIcon-Cumans Cuman Mercenaries · CivIcon-Lithuanians Tower Shields · CivIcon-Tatars Timurid Siegecraft
AoE2Icon-LordsWest Lords of the West civilizations
UniqueTechCastle-DECivIcon-Burgundians Burgundian Vineyards · CivIcon-Sicilians First Crusade
UniqueTechImperialDECivIcon-Burgundians Flemish Revolution · CivIcon-Sicilians Hauberk
Dawn of the Dukes icon Dawn of the Dukes civilizations
UniqueTechCastle-DECivIcon-Bohemians Wagenburg Tactics · CivIcon-Poles Szlachta Privileges
UniqueTechImperialDECivIcon-Bohemians Hussite Reforms · CivIcon-Poles Lechitic Legacy
AoE2Icon-DynastiesIndia Dynasties of India civilizations
UniqueTechCastle-DECivIcon-Bengalis Paiks · CivIcon-Dravidians Medical Corps · CivIcon-Gurjaras Kshatriyas · CivIcon-Hindustanis Grand Trunk Road
UniqueTechImperialDECivIcon-Bengalis Mahayana · CivIcon-Dravidians Wootz Steel · CivIcon-Gurjaras Frontier Guards · CivIcon-Hindustanis Shatagni
AoE2Icon-ReturnRome Return of Rome civilizations
UniqueTechCastle-DECivIcon-Romans Ballistas
UniqueTechImperialDECivIcon-Romans Comitatenses
AoE2Icon-MountainRoyals The Mountain Royals civilizations
UniqueTechCastle-DECivIcon-Armenians Cilician Fleet · CivIcon-Georgians Svan Towers
UniqueTechImperialDECivIcon-Armenians Fereters · CivIcon-Georgians Aznauri Cavalry
Removed technologies
UniqueTechCastle-DECivIcon-Persians Boiling Oil · CivIcon-Saracens Camelry · CivIcon-Saracens Madrasah · CivIcon-Mayans Obsidian Arrows · CivIcon-Slavs Orthodoxy · CivIcon-Koreans Panokseon
UniqueTechImperialDECivIcon-Vikings Berserkergang · CivIcon-Persians Mahouts · CivIcon-Sicilians Scutage · CivIcon-Saracens Zealotry
Revised technologies
UniqueTechImperialDE Couriers · UniqueTechImperialDE Manipur Cavalry · UniqueTechImperialDE Paper Money · UniqueTechCastle-DE Royal Heirs
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