THE SILK ROAD
THE SILK ROAD The Silk Road was actually a network of smaller trade routes that reached over 4,000 miles across Asia. The Silk Road reached from Louyang (China) to Antioch (Syria). The Silk Road linked the peoples of the Han Dynasty in the East and the Roman Empire in the West. Goods and ideas traveled along the Silk Road. Chinese exported: Silk and Jade Chinese imported: Spices (India) and Glassware (Rome) New ideas such as Buddhism were introduced through the Silk Road
FATHER OF THE SILK ROAD The Silk Road was made possible by the expansion of the Han Dynasty as their military victories opened up new trade routes to the west. Chinese Explorer Zhang Qian is often called the Father of the Silk Road. In 138 B.C.E. the Han emperor sent Zhang Qian west with about 100 men to make a treaty with the western peoples against the enemy the Huns. He was unable to form an alliance. He was captured twice by the Huns, but was able to escape. He brought back word of places like Persia, Syria, India, and Rome. On a second journey, he discovered a powerful type of horse better suited to war than the smaller Chinese horse. He also discovered: grapes, and established trade relationships with other Asian peoples
SILK: WORTH IT S WEIGHT IN GOLD The Chinese were the first and only people to know how to make silk. It was forbidden (punishable by death) for any Chinese weaver to tell how to make silk to anyone outside China. Silk became highly prized in Rome and in other cultures. The Romans traded valuable goods for Silk Silk was still a luxury item and only the richest Romans could afford it and only then a strip or two on their togas Romans trade gold and glassware for Silk As the Romans were fascinated with Silk, so were the Chinese with blown glassware which the Romans knew how to make. It was a win-win situation.
THE EASTERN SILK ROAD The Silk Road was not one continuous route, but several shorter routes networked together The two major routes were the Eastern and Western Routes The Eastern road went west along the Gobi Desert and was protected to the north by the Great Wall At Dunhuang, the road split to a north and south trail going through the Taklamakan Desert. On the Northern route many dangers faced the traders Bandits attacked Sand storms Mirages The traders formed caravans (groups traveling together) using Bactrian camels--able to carry goods and suitable for traveling in the desert
GOODS ON THE SILK ROAD Traveling along the Silk Road was expensive To make a profit, traders had to carry goods that were very valuable and easy to carry Silk was the perfect trading good because it was light and valuable Silk traveled from China to Rome, throughout the Mediterranean, and even to Europe China exported silk but also Fine dishware (China), ornaments, jewelry, cast iron and decorative boxes China imported other things including Horses from Central Asia, jade, furs and gold Cotton, pearls, spices and ivory from India
THE WESTERN SILK ROAD The journey west from Kashgar began with a difficult trip across the Pamir Mountains Some peaks were over 20,000 feet and caused people to suffer from lack of oxygen (headaches, dizziness, etc) Sometimes traders unloaded their animals and carried the goods though the passes themselves A stop along the way was north of Ancient Babylon (modern day Iraq) and from there went north across the Syrian Desert Dangers lurked here Tigers, Lions, Scorpions, etc. The final stop of this road was the Mediterranean port city of Antioch and other Mediterranean ports
GOODS ALONG THE WESTERN ROAD Many goods traveled along the Western Silk Road and eventually ended up in China Traders from Egypt, Arabia, and Persia brought many things to to trade (export) Perfumes, Cosmetics, and carpets Central Asian traders brought Metal items, dyes, and sometimes slaves Besides glassware Rome also traded (exported) trays, vases, necklaces, small bottles, and GOLD (LOTS OF GOLD)