Long ago, when Hashim was the Chief of Makkah and the helper of the Kabah, the city became very busy with buying and selling. Hashim was the great-grandfather of our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and under his care, the trade in Makkah grew in a very big way.
Hashim was a very clever leader. He planned two grand journeys with many camels, called caravans. One caravan traveled from Makkah all the way to Yemen, and the other traveled from Makkah to Syria. One group went during the warm summers and the other group went during the cool winters. This wonderful plan helped the people of Makkah become very successful and happy.
These trade caravans traveled from Makkah to Syria and Najd. From there, they reached the Red Sea, which connected them to a very famous path used by the whole world called the Silk Route. The Silk Route, or the Silk Road, was like a giant web of paths that joined together many different lands across Asia, Africa, the Mediterranean, and Europe.
The Silk Route was started by the Chinese people more than 2,000 years ago. It was very, very long—reaching from the Red Sea all the way to East Africa, India, China, and Southeast Asia. It stretched for over 6,500 kilometers (that is 4,000 miles!). This long road was very important because it helped great civilizations like China, India, Egypt, Iran, and Arabia grow and learn from each other.
Can you imagine all the beautiful things the camels carried in those caravans? They brought back soft silk and colorful fabrics. They carried sweet-smelling musk and perfumes, tasty spices, and medicines to help people feel better. They also traded sparkly jewels, pretty glassware, ivory, and fine textiles. There was even shiny gold, silver, and many precious stones!
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