The world's first superhighway that carried goods and ideas between Europe and China.

Covering 5,000 miles, passing through 13 countries and crossing some of the most dramatic landscapes on the planet, this is the fascinating story of the lucrative trade route which changed the course of civilization forever.

In this extraordinary documentary series, Dr Sam Willis explores how the fortunes, ideas and history of the West were shaped and exchanged by travelers from the East.

Watch The Silk Road and more acclaimed documentaries on BBC Select today. Restrictions apply*.