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Silk Road Odyssey: A Passage Through Time and Culture

The Silk Road was a path connecting the east and west parts of Asia of around 6,400 kilometres. The term 'silk' was given by a German called Ferdinand Von Richthofen. The name holds significance as a lot of silk was traded through this route. The silk was produced by China and transported to the Mediterranean and Europe. The Silk Road was more than just silk transport. This route has been documented by Marco Polo the famous traveller in his documentary "The Travels of Marco Polo".

'The Travels of Marco Polo' book

Photo credit-www.loc.gov


Which countries did the Silk Road comprise?

The major countries that were a part of the Silk Road were China, Pakistan, Russia, India, Egypt, Myanmar, Oman, Sudan, and Syria. The road started from China to the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. This route helped cities develop and evolve more and increased the economy of countries by trading. India traded rubies, sapphires, and other valuable gemstones along with spices.

The silk road route

What were the trades taking place on the Silk Road?

1. Silk- It was one of the most valuable materials made by China and exported to the world. The Romans considered Chinese silk as very precious. The trading was very limited so they took the lightest silk which was most beautiful. In the Tang dynasty, silk was such an important thing that it was used as a form of tax. Buddhists used silk as banners and China used silk as its currency back in history.


2. Spices- Spices from South Asia were traded. Cinnamon was traded from Sri Lanka and Cassia from China. Most of the spaces were transported via sea. Many spices also held medicinal value for the world. Spices also meant more than luxuries for people around the world.

3. Slaves- The slaves were captivated as and when kingdoms won and lost wars along the Silk Route. Many slaves were also sold to private traders in cities such as Dublin. Slaves were not the major economy but were considered important to historic people.


4. Horses- Horses were traded from India, Persia, China, and the Mediterranean region. Horses were used as a mode of transportation, cavalry, and cultivation of crops. Merchants sold horses from plateaus and steppes and were well-bred.

Trade on silk road

5. Paper- It was invented by the Chinese in the 2nd century A.C. Buddhism was also spread via texts which shows that paper played a major role in it and both spread across the world together. The Caliph of Baghdad built a paper mill after the war with the Tang dynasty. From Baghdad, paper-making was spread to Spain and Egypt. Texts and books were traded on the silk road which also helped religion to spread around.

Paper-making in Paper mills at Baghdad

The Silk Road played a vital role in the mixing of culture and customs. The Chinese, Arabs, Christians, Egyptians, and other cultures mixed through trading and war across the Silk Road. It was mainly spread by territorial expansion and exploration. The network started in 130 B.C.E by the Hans dynasty of China and ended when the Ottoman empire ended trade with the West in 1453 C.E.

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Chandresh Sagar
Chandresh Sagar
Oct 18, 2023

તમારાં પપ્પા એ આ બ્લોગ ની માહિતી આપી છે.

લખતાં રહેજો


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