What role did the Great Silk Road play in the Middle Ages?

The Great Silk Road was the largest channel through which people transported manufactured goods. This made it possible to establish foreign trade relations, develop the economies of the countries. Also, this path was used to exchange information about the existence of any inventions, which made it possible to improve the knowledge of people. Also, this path contributed to geographical discoveries: the Europeans and the Chinese learned not only about the existence of each other, but also discovered other civilizations.