History of the Silk Road

INTRODUCTION The Silk Road has often been referred to as the original information superhighway.

Long before the Internet was invented, Silk Road merchants were transporting ideas, religious beliefs, and

technology along with the goods they carried. The main overland route between Chang’an (the capital of 

the Han Dynasty) and Antioch on the Mediterranean Sea was about 4,000 miles long. However, therewere thousands of miles of trade routes crossing both land and sea that connected the Silk Road to India,

Arabia, Egypt, Rome, and Spain.

CHINA’S ISOLATION Until the Han Dynasty (206 BC/BCE – 220 AD/CE), China was isolated due to

its geography. Sharp mountain ranges to the west and southwest, dangerous deserts to the west and north,

and oceans to the east made it so that China had virtually no contact with other nations.

ZHANG QIAN China’s isolation ended in 138 BC/BCE when Emperor Han Wu Di sent an armyofficer, Zhang Qian, into Central Asia. Zhang Qian’s mission was to make an alliance with the people of 

Bactria who was known to hate the Xiongnu (Huns) as much as the Chinese did. Unfortunately, Zhang

Qian was kidnapped by the Xiongnu and held for ten years. When he finally escaped, he traveled west to

find the Bactrians and ask them if they would join the Chinese in fighting the Xiongnu.

Zhang Qian’s mission failed to create a military alliance with the Bactrians of Central Asia, but his reports

of unknown lands, people, and goods sparked Emperor Han Wu Di’s interest in developing trade

relationships with them. Zhang Qian’s route became the first leg of the famous “Silk Road” thateventually led from China to the Roman Empire. China, which had been isolated for so long, was now

connected to the rest of the world through trade.

SILK PRODUCTION The Chinese figured out how to make silk in 3000 BC/BCE and, until 500

AD/CE, they were the only people in the world who knew the secret of how to make it. While the

Romans thought that silk must have been harvested from trees, the Chinese knew that silk worms werethe key. Once silk worms hatch, they spend 25 days munching on Chinese mulberry leaves until they spin

their cocoons. The cocoons can be unraveled to produce silk thread. Silk is the strongest natural fiber in

the world. Because silk fabric is easily dyed, lightweight, and beautiful, people outside of China werewilling to pay high prices for it. The Chinese closely guarded the secret of how to make silk and anyone

caught smuggling silk worm eggs or mulberry leaves out of China was put to death. 

ROMANS Although many goods were traded on the Silk Road, Roman demand for Chinese silk brought

in the greatest profits. Silk garments became extremely popular in Roman society, so much so that in 14

AD/CE men were no longer allowed to wear them. The Roman Emperor was concerned about theeconomic impact of so much gold flowing out Rome and into China to pay for the silk. Despite his

disapproval and the high cost of silk, Romans continued to purchase and wear the beautiful fabric.

DESERTS & MOUNTAINS Trade caravans traveled on the Silk Road despite incredible dangers. They

were forced to travel at a snail's pace over some of the most dangerous territory on the face of the earth,which included waterless deserts and icy, razor-sharp mountains. In the deserts, blinding sandstorms

forced both merchants and animals to a standstill for days on end, their eyes, ears and mouths covered to

avoid breathing in the swirling sand. Traders crossed some of the highest mountains in the world on their  journey. Altitude sickness and snow-blindness affected both men and animals along dangerous mountain

 paths. Death followed on the heels of every caravan.

 

CARAVANS For protection against bandits who were tempted by the precious cargoes of silk,

gemstones, spices, carpets, etc., merchants joined forces to form large caravans of as many as 1,000

camels. In addition, armed guards were hired to accompany the caravans for protection. The two-humpedBactrian camel could carry 400 to 500 pounds of merchandise and was preferred to the single-humped

camel, which could carry the same load, but could not maintain the same pace.

Few caravans completed the entire route that connected the capitals of the Roman and Chinese empires.

The oasis towns on the overland journey became important trading posts where caravans would add new

merchants, animals, and goods. These oasis towns became wealthy from the large profits they made on

the goods they bought and sold.

The long route was divided into sections. Chinese traders took their merchandise as far as the Jade Gate at

Dunhuang. Here it was sold or bartered to Central Asian middlemen who carried the goods to Persian,

Syrian and Greek cities. Once in the cities, the middlemen sold the goods to local merchants who in turntraveled to and around the Roman Empire selling the goods. Each time the goods were bought and sold

the price were raised. Roman, Egyptian, Arabian, and Persian goods were taken back to China on the

return trip.

RELIGION In addition to goods, religious ideas were also transported along the Silk Road. Buddhismwas brought from India to China by merchants and is still an important religion in China today. Caves and

temples along the Silk Road were decorated with Buddhist art and statues in hopes of providing

 protection for merchants as they traveled. Christianity spread from the Roman Empire throughout Europe

and Asia on the trade routes as well.

TECHNOLOGY Chinese inventions such as the crossbow, kite, magnetic compass, gunpowder, chain pump, stern-post rudder, paper, and wood block printing were carried to the west by merchants. These

inventions amazed people in the West and transformed how they lived. Likewise, Roman ideas such as

the water wheel and glass making were passed on to the Chinese by traders. 

DISEASE Unfortunately, diseases were also passed along by merchants heading both east and west. It is

 believed that the Bubonic Plague, which wiped out about half of Europe’s population during the Middle

Ages, was brought by traders traveling west from Central Asia.

Goods Traded on the Silk Road

Rome Egypt Persia &

Arabia

India Central Asia China

Gold

Grapes

Wine

Glass

Gold

Cosmetics

Glass

Ivory

Carpets

Metals

Perfumes

Dates

Fabric dyes

Spices

Medicine

Gems

Pearls

Cotton

Ivory

Strong horses

Furs

Silk 

Porcelain

Bronze

weapons

Oranges

Pears

Peaches

Flowers

Jade

Paper 

 

Important Places on the Silk Road (East to West)

CHANG’AN was the capital city of the Han and Tang Dynasties (as well as many others) and is located

near the modern-day city of Xi’an. At the height of the Silk Road during the Tang Dynasty, Chang’an wasthe largest city in the world with one million people. The markets bustled with Silk Road merchants

 buying and selling goods.

GOBI DESERT The Gobi Desert is a desert of rocks rather than sand. It is the coldest and most

northerly desert in the world. It has two seasons, scorching hot summers, which are eight months long,

and icy cold winters, which are four moths long. It is the home of the two-humped Bactrian camel, which

would go days without water, but could drink 30 gallons at a time when thirsty.

DUNHUANG This is the location of the Jade Gate, the last place of safety and supplies for travelersheading west on the Silk Road. Caravans would stock up on water and food before starting out on the

long desert trek. The Great Wall was extended to protect Dunhuang and its traders from bandits. 

TAKLIMAKAN DESERT The infamous Taklamakan Desert, which in Turki means "go in and you

won’t come out," has been feared by travelers for more than 2,000 years. In fact, it is so dangerous that

the Silk Road split into a northern route and a southern route between Dunhuang and Kashgar so thattraders could avoid traveling through it. The Taklimakan is a huge area of shifting sand dunes created by

sandstorms that can last for days, with winds up to 90 miles per hour. Armies, cities, and travelers are

rumored to be buried under the shifting sands of this most dangerous portion of the Silk Road.

KASHGAR was the largest oasis city in Central Asia and an important stop on the Silk Road. Its location

was the meeting point for travelers coming from China off the northern and southern routes around the

Taklimakan Desert as well as those coming from the west through the freezing Pamir Mountains.

PAMIR MOUNTAINS These desolate mountains are just west of the Taklimakan Desert and Kashgar.Deep canyons and passes have been carved out by the Indus River and gorges have been created by

glaciers. Altitude sickness was a common problem for travelers, as well as the constant threat of slipping

off the narrow mountain trails and falling hundreds of feet onto the rocks below.

KHYBER PASS This was a very important mountain pass through the Hindu Kush, which is one of the

highest mountain ranges in the world. Caravans traveling the Silk Road used it to travel from the west and

from China to India. Alexander the Great crossed this pass on his failed quest to conquer India.

BACTRIA This important oasis and trade city was part of the “Indian Toll Road” on which travelers journeyed north and south, crossing the east-west Silk Road. Emperor Wu Di’s desire for strong Bactrian

horses is what motivated him to establish the trade routes. Bactrian camels, which have two humps and

can travel quickly, were essential to the success of any caravan.

ANTIOCH is a city located 20 miles from the eastern Mediterranean coast. It is an ancient Greek city and

center of culture that grew wealthy from the caravan trade to India. Glassware, textiles (woven materials),

and salt were some of the products that passed through Antioch to go east. Goods from the Silk Road

would come to Antioch and then be resold throughout the Mediterranean and the rest of Europe.

 

Silk Road

Silk Road & Connecting Trade Routes 

·  Alexandria Khyber Pass

(Hindu Kush Mts) HIMLALAYAS

Bactria • 

P E R S I A

 A R A B I AE G Y P T