2. Silk RoadsSilk Roads
•• SilkSilk Roads—trade routesRoads—trade routes
carried silk, gold, cotton,carried silk, gold, cotton,
turquoise, jade, rubies,turquoise, jade, rubies,
ivories, furs, cattle, andivories, furs, cattle, and
camels to and from China.camels to and from China.
• During Han Dynasty, onlyDuring Han Dynasty, only
Chinese knew how toChinese knew how to
make silk.make silk.
•• Silk opened trade,Silk opened trade,
increased contact with theincreased contact with the
WestWest
•• Silk, paper, pottery wentSilk, paper, pottery went
west; metals, gems, andwest; metals, gems, and
horses came east.horses came east.
3. RoutesRoutes
► The northern routeThe northern route
passes through thepasses through the
Bulgar-Kypchak region.Bulgar-Kypchak region.
All its routes mergeAll its routes merge
together near Merv,together near Merv,
where it rejoins with thewhere it rejoins with the
southern route.southern route.
► The southern routeThe southern route
mainly runs throughmainly runs through
India. It eventually endsIndia. It eventually ends
up with the northernup with the northern
route briefly near Merv.route briefly near Merv.
4. Cultural ExchangesCultural Exchanges
► Buddhism and Greco-Buddhism and Greco-
Buddhist culture spreadBuddhist culture spread
eastward along the Silkeastward along the Silk
Road.Road.
► Many artistic influencesMany artistic influences
transited along the Silktransited along the Silk
Road, especially throughRoad, especially through
the Central Asia, wherethe Central Asia, where
Hellenistic, Iranian, IndianHellenistic, Iranian, Indian
and Chinese influenceand Chinese influence
were able to intermix.were able to intermix.
5. The Spread of BuddhismThe Spread of Buddhism
► Silk Roads helped spreadSilk Roads helped spread
military methods,military methods,
Buddhism, styles to China.Buddhism, styles to China.
► Buddhist missionaries tookBuddhist missionaries took
Silk Roads to China.Silk Roads to China.
► Buddhism spread to JapanBuddhism spread to Japan
and Korea from China.and Korea from China.
► Chinese BuddhistsChinese Buddhists
modified the religion to fitmodified the religion to fit
their own traditions.their own traditions.
6. The Silk Road in Han DynastyThe Silk Road in Han Dynasty
► After Wu-ti's expedition toAfter Wu-ti's expedition to
Fergana, the Xiongnu wereFergana, the Xiongnu were
driven from north westerndriven from north western
China, and the Chinese powerChina, and the Chinese power
spread across the entire Tarimspread across the entire Tarim
Basin.Basin.
► From then on, merchants couldFrom then on, merchants could
travel through the silk routetravel through the silk route
safely.safely.
► The traders traveled to theThe traders traveled to the
west along the silk route, andwest along the silk route, and
they discovered that silk wasthey discovered that silk was
considered to be very preciousconsidered to be very precious
material in the west.material in the west.
7. CauseCause EffectEffect
► In the West, silk wasIn the West, silk was
considered moreconsidered more
precious than gold andprecious than gold and
it remained very rareit remained very rare
and expensive.and expensive.
► The westerners calledThe westerners called
the Chinese the Silkthe Chinese the Silk
People.People.
► The capital of the HanThe capital of the Han
dynasty, Chang'an,dynasty, Chang'an,
was known as Silkwas known as Silk
City.City.
8. Silk Road in the Roman EmpireSilk Road in the Roman Empire
► Chinese initially gave silk to theChinese initially gave silk to the
Roman-Asian governments asRoman-Asian governments as
gifts.gifts.
► The route spanned China,The route spanned China,
Central Asia, Northern India,Central Asia, Northern India,
and the Parthian and Romanand the Parthian and Roman
Empires.Empires.
► Silk proved to be an expensiveSilk proved to be an expensive
import for the Roman Empireimport for the Roman Empire
since its trade across Indian andsince its trade across Indian and
Central Asia was heavilyCentral Asia was heavily
controlled by the Parthiancontrolled by the Parthian
Empire.Empire.
► Northwestern Indians who livedNorthwestern Indians who lived
near the Ganges River playednear the Ganges River played
prominent roles as middlemenprominent roles as middlemen
in the China-Mediterranean silkin the China-Mediterranean silk
tradetrade
9. Collapse of the Han DynastyCollapse of the Han Dynasty
► The trade between eastThe trade between east
and west was reduced to aand west was reduced to a
minimum.minimum.
► According to theAccording to the
Procopius, two ChristianProcopius, two Christian
monks discovered how tomonks discovered how to
make silk.make silk.
► Silk was produced in theSilk was produced in the
Mediterranean after theMediterranean after the
monks discovered themonks discovered the
secret.secret.
► Although trade wasAlthough trade was
decreased, the Silk Roaddecreased, the Silk Road
did not completely die.did not completely die.
10. Assessment QuestionsAssessment Questions
1.1. What items were traded on the Silk Roads?What items were traded on the Silk Roads?
2.2. Where do the northern and southern routes rejoin?Where do the northern and southern routes rejoin?
3.3. Many artistic influences transited along the Silk Road,Many artistic influences transited along the Silk Road,
especially through the Central Asia, where what fourespecially through the Central Asia, where what four
cultures were able to mix?cultures were able to mix?
4.4. Buddhism spread toBuddhism spread to _____ andand _____ from China.from China.
5.5. The capital of the Han Dynasty was Chang’an. What’sThe capital of the Han Dynasty was Chang’an. What’s
another name for this city?another name for this city?
6.6. According to Procopius, two Christian monks discoveredAccording to Procopius, two Christian monks discovered
_____._____.
11. Assessment AnswersAssessment Answers
1. Silk, gold, cotton, turquoise, jade, rubies,1. Silk, gold, cotton, turquoise, jade, rubies,
ivories, furs, cattle and camels, paper,ivories, furs, cattle and camels, paper,
pottery, metals, gems, and horses.pottery, metals, gems, and horses.
2. Merv.2. Merv.
3. Hellenistic, Iranian, Indian and Chinese.3. Hellenistic, Iranian, Indian and Chinese.
4. Japan and Korea.4. Japan and Korea.
5. The Silk City.5. The Silk City.
6. They discovered how to make silk.6. They discovered how to make silk.
