Marco Polo & The Silk Road

The Silk Road was one of the most important trade routes in history

It connected Eastern Asia to the rest of Eurasia.Many ideas, goods, and inventions were diffused

along the Silk Road

The Silk Road was not one single road – there was several different branches that developed, passing through different oasis settlements

The trade route starts in Chang’an in China and ends in different branches in different areas of Europe

It was comprised of both land and sea routes

Eastern Eurasia is cut off from Western Eurasia thanks to many geographical boundaries

West of China: Taklimakan Desert (Aka: Land of Death)Northeast of Taklimakan: Gobi DesertSouth of Taklimakan: Himalayas, Karakorum, and Kunlun rangesNorth and West of Taklimakan: Taishan and Pamir ranges

Trade Along the Silk Road• Silk, porcelain, gunpowder, and paper were

exports of China.• Buddhism traveled on the Silk Road and

became prominent in China and other places.

• Wool, ivory, slaves, and spices were imported to China.

MARCO POLO(1254-1324) A venetian merchant who traveled on the Silk

Road starting in 1271 His journey lasted 24 years He brought ivory, jade, jewels, porcelain, and silk

from China His journey was recorded by Rustichello da Pisa in

the book, The Travels of Marco Polo

• Sailed from Venice across the Mediterranean Sea to Acre (Israel)

• From Acre he traveled to Hormuz (Iran)• From Hormuz he turned back because of the

dangerous journey and untrustworthy boats• Went north to travel along the land routes of the

Silk Road • Went pass the Pamir Mountains to Kashgar and

two deserts to go to Shangdu to meet the current ruler of China, Kublai Khan.

MARCO POLO’S JOURNEY TO CHINA

Marco Polo and The Mongols• Marco Polo served on the Khan's court and was sent on

special missions in China, Burma, and India• During the Yuan Dynasty, Mongols secured trade routes

and had elaborate courier networks.• They maintained order for traveling merchants so it was

easy and safe for Marco Polo to travel.

Kublai Khan giving Marco Polo a Piaza (a gold permit to travel).

The height of the Silk Road was during the Tang dynasty, when China had relative internal stability.

The Mongolian empires gave way to increased interaction between cultures of different regions via the Silk Road.

Marco Polo traveled on the Silk Road starting in 1271

The Silk Road declined after the fall of the Mongolian Empires

Question 1Which of these cities was not involved in the Silk Road?A. ConstantinopleB. Chang’anC. BaghdadD. SamarkandE. Athens

Question 2What were the imports and exports of China?

A. B.C.D.E.

Imports ExportsSpices, gold, elephants Jade, gunpowder Slaves, spices, ivory Silk, paper, porcelainPearl, gold, ivory, fur Tea, potteries, silkPrecious metals, spices Vases, jewelry Horses, camels, gold Warriors, instruments

Question 3Where did the Silk Road begin and end respectively?A. Mediterranean Sea to ChinaB. Chang’ an to EuropeC. China to IndiaD. Chang’an to ConstantinopleE. China to Africa

Question 4Where did Marco Polo’s journey begin and end?A. Arabia to MalaysiaB. Venice to ChinaC. Italy to RussiaD. India to MongoliaE. Constantinople to Samarkand

Question 5Why was the Silk Road significant?A.It facilitated trade among Europe and Asia.B. Everyone along the Silk Road wove silk.C. People had imported and exported valuables that they don’t have.D. People liked other countries’ stuff. E. Everybody traded globally.

SloganThe Silk Road –

The Ancient Airplane

Connecting different places, people, culture, and ideas