The Mongol Empire is what links Europe and Asia during frequent, extended, and brutal conflicts between the East and the West. I took a 10-day trip through the Mongol Empire and the Silk Road. Starting from Rome and ending in Malacca, I learned quite a bit. The whole empire is rich with culture and history. The first place I visited was in Rome. In the Roman Empire, I saw the intricate Byzantine Church, covered in complex and beautiful designs. The people there were very religious. They all considered Catholicism to be a very important, if not the most important, part of their lives. One thing that is also important in Rome is trading, specifically for silk. Silk is considered an exotic luxury to the Roman Empire, only the rich and the royal have it. Silk is considered a royal fabric and an important revenue source for the crown. The Byzantine Church’s need for silk garments and hangings were fulfilled due to the abundance of silk in the empire. The Roman Empire highly valued silk. The next day, I visited the city of Athena, located in Greece. The silk road had turned the country of Greece into a cultural crossroad, connecting different cultures all throughout the Mongol Empire. The most prominent connection of Greece to the Silk Road is Alexander the Great, who is thought of as one of the first travelers of the Silk Road from the West. The city of Athena has lots of beautiful monuments, such as the intricate statue of Lord Byron, located at the entrance of the Local