A chinese explorer named Zhang Qian is often called the father of the Silk Road. In 138 B.C.E a Han empire sent Zhang Qian west with 100 men. Many people traded , Persia , Syria , India and Rome. Overtime the Chinese traveled west. Silk was a good trade and only the Chinese knew how to make it. The Romans in particular traded valuable goods for silk. Besides having gold to trade, the Romans had something else the Chinese prized glassware.