The Silk Road
The Silk Road was named during the middle of the 19th century by the German scholar, Baron Ferdinand von Richthofen. During the Chinese dynasties it was merely a trading route, using several different routes across Asia to Europe and vice versa. In A.D. 1879 and A.D. 1907 Sir Marc Aurel Stein undertook expeditions into Central Asia. He discovered a wide array of objects in China from along the Silk Road from tomb guardians to the famous Buddhist caves at Dunhuang.
The beginnings of the Silk Road stem from when Zhang Qian was sent on a diplomatic mission in 139 B.C. by the Han emperor Wudi. He had to try and gain support from the tribes neighbouring China against the threat of Ruzhen (also called Xiongnu). He was captured on his journey and remained a prisoner of the Ruzhen for 10 years. After escaping he continued his journey. He did not find the support he expected but the knowledge he brought back to China about the people and the region, and vice versa, proved irresistible. The Persians and Romans desired silk, whilst the Chinese desired spices and gems amongst other goods.
During the Han dynasty great profits were made along the Silk Road. The Romans’ love for silk meant that they bought silk with the exact same weight in gold! During the Tang dynasty about 30% of the trade along the Silk Road was in silk.
Prosperity along the Silk Road relied on stable governments. Hence it is clear to see that during the strongest dynasties trade flourished, whilst in unsettled periods it floundered. It peaked during the 8th century in the Tang dynasty; partly because of the internal stability but also because economic policies encouraged trade between the East and the West.
The spread of foreign religions along the Silk Road grew. Buddhism had a lasting influence in China because it had been brought to China in the 1st century A.D. Christianity was not as successful as it was only introduced in A.D. 631 by the Nestorians from Iran. Later Islam and Judaism spread along the Silk Road and like Christianity they were not successful.
The Silk Road declined after the Tang dynasty and never regained its dominance, although the Mongols had contacts with the West. The loss of the land route led the Chinese to discover another route to transport their goods. Sea trade from Asia to Europe developed from the 15th century, especially as it cost less and there were fewer annoyances. The value of silk had declined as the Persians mastered the art of sericulture, so other types of goods had to be transported. Ceramics proved particularly popular and were more easily transported by sea than by land.
Ancient Civilizations –
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