After the great geographical discoveries in the late 15th – early
16th centuries the intercontinental overland trade routes fell into
decay. The speed of the sea transportation, the possibility to carry
more goods, relative cheapness of transportation resulted in the
decline of the Silk Road in the end of the 15th century. Although some
of its routes, especially those in the high-mountainous areas,
connecting Tajikistan, Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and India, existed
until the beginning of the 20th century.
