The empire credited with the establishment of the Silk Road trade route is the Han Dynasty of China. Emerging around 206 BCE, the Han Dynasty expanded its influence across Asia and initiated extensive trade with regions such as India and Rome. The Silk Road facilitated the exchange of not only valuable goods like silk and spices but also cultural ideas, technologies, and religions. This network played a vital role in connecting diverse civilizations, fostering economic growth, and significantly impacting global trade patterns that endured for centuries.