SummaryThe Eurasian 'Silk Road' is considered one the world's most extensive overland trade networks, yet questions regarding the evolution of its ancient routes and the factors that shaped their geography remain unanswered. This is especially problematic in its vast mountainous stretches, where harsh conditions and terrain are seen as impediments to travel. We present a model that uses highland pasture quality to calculate optimized seasonal herding patterns of nomadic societies, who historically

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