Based on my knowledge, the scramble for Africa was largely because the industrial revolution was springing up all over the world in largely European countries and they were at a point where resources were running out. Gold and other valuable metals were discovered in Africa as well as timber. The surplus of resources in Africa made it very valuable to these industrial countries so they all made a huge "scramble" to Africa. Also, the idea of merchantilism, the idea that the amount of land a country owned defined its wealth, was still very popular so these countries wanted to make a huge land grab.
The Silk Road was established during the HAN DYNASTY of China. The Han Dynasty opened trade with the West beginning the Silk Road. The term "Silk Road" was coined by Ferdinand von Richthofen a German geographer and traveler.
