Which of the following best explains how physical geography impacted trade along the Silk Road? (1 point)
O Maritime trade routes were developed throughout the Silk Road to avoid the mountains.
O Deserts were flat and easy to travel across, so traders often went across them.
Mountains such as the Pamir Mountains made trade difficult, so traders often avoided them.
Lack of water along the Silk Road caused traders to flock to oases to survive
Mountains such as the Pamir Mountains made trade difficult, so traders often avoided them.
The correct option is: Mountains such as the Pamir Mountains made trade difficult, so traders often avoided them.
To determine which of the given options best explains how physical geography impacted trade along the Silk Road, we can analyze each option:
Option A suggests that maritime trade routes were developed to avoid the mountains along the Silk Road. However, this is not accurate, as the Silk Road primarily relied on land routes and did not extensively utilize maritime trade.
Option B states that deserts were easy to traverse and therefore traders often crossed them. While deserts were indeed a part of the Silk Road, they were not necessarily easy to travel across. Harsh conditions and lack of resources made desert travel challenging.
Option C highlights that mountains, such as the Pamir Mountains, made trade difficult and thus traders often avoided them. This option is the most accurate explanation as the mountainous terrain presented significant obstacles for trade caravans. Traders would often prefer routes that minimized their interaction with challenging mountainous regions.
Option D suggests that the lack of water along the Silk Road caused traders to seek oases for survival. While oases were vital resting points for travelers, the overall scarcity of water was not the primary reason traders flocked to oases. Water scarcity was a challenge, but traders also sought oases for other reasons, such as for trade exchanges and social interactions.
Therefore, the best explanation among the given options is Option C: Mountains such as the Pamir Mountains made trade difficult, so traders often avoided them.