Chapter 24: The Silk Road
Essential Question: How did trade along the Silk Road lead to an exchange of goods and ideas?
In this chapter, you learn how the Silk Road, an ancient network of trade routes, promoted an exchange of goods and ideas between China and the West.
The Opening of the Silk Road
The Silk Road was opened during the Han dynasty and remained a major route of trade for more than one thousand years. The eastern and western parts of the Silk Road presented many dangers and hardships for those who traveled along it. To make a profit from trade, goods had to be valuable and easy to carry. Silk and ornaments traveled from China to Rome, India, and central Asia. Gold, horses, cotton, and spices traveled back to China. The Eastern Silk Road The Eastern Silk Road connected the capital of China to Kashgar. Travelers formed camel caravans for protection from bandits and the harsh conditions of desert travel. The Western Silk Road From Kashgar, the Western Silk Road crossed mountains and a desert on its way to Mediterranean ports like Antioch.Travelers faced high, slippery mountain trails and dangerous desert wildlife, such as tigers and lions. Cultural Exchanges Along the Silk Road Many goods were exchanged along the Silk Road, including both silk from China and glassware from Rome. In addition to new products, ideas and knowledge were exchanged. In this way, trade brought cultural changes to both East and West.One of the most important examples of cultural diffusion was the introduction of Buddhism to China. |
VideosThe Story of the Silk Road (3:32)
The Silk Road and Ancient Trade: Crash Course W.H. #9 (10:30) How China is Reviving the Silk Road (3:39) CNN: The Silk Road Story (23:01) |