现代史学并未完全领会到丝绸之路生态的复杂性,因此也未能理解其古老性或者掌握其在欧亚历史中的重要性。丝绸之路对农耕文明区域之间在物品、技术和思想的相互传播中所扮演的角色已得到很好的理解,但是丝绸之路所扮演的跨生态(trans-ecological)角色却未得到理解——事实上这一角色同样在游牧和农耕之间实现物品和思想的传播。后一个交流体系,虽然更少被知晓,但是在时间上却早于“跨文明”(trans-civilization)交流 Modern history did not fully comprehend the ecological complexity of the Silk Road and therefore failed to understand its ancient nature or grasp its importance in the history of Europe and Asia. The Silk Road has a good understanding of the role played by the civilized regions in the intercommunication of goods, technology and thought, but the trans-ecological role of the Silk Road has not been understood - In fact, this role also realizes the spread of goods and ideas between nomadic and farming. The latter exchange system, albeit less known, was earlier in time than the “trans-civilization” exchange