What was the first major route to connect europe and asia

Mercantilism - funded by European leaders in hopes of increasing accumulated wealth created to find reserves of precious metals and more raw materials. Silk Road - used by soldiers, merchants, monks, and others and was the first major route to connect Europe with Asia.

answer: karl marx, max weber, and emile durkheim (the fourth could be considered georg simmel)

explanation:

the exclusive possession or control of the supply or trade in a commodity or service.