[2026] PTE Academic Listening - Fill in the Blanks (Type In)

The Silk Road was not a single path, but a vast network of maritime and overland trade routes that connected the East and West. This ancient system facilitated the of luxury goods, such as silk, spices, and precious metals. Beyond commerce, these routes played a role in the transmission of religious beliefs and cultural practices. As merchants traveled across diverse , they also inadvertently spread new technologies and scientific knowledge. However, the rapid movement of people and goods also led to the of infectious diseases, including the plague. Historians consider this network to be an early example of , long before the modern era. Today, many nations are attempting to these historic pathways to promote regional economic cooperation.