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The Silk Road

Connecting Asia to Europe

Modern Silk Road Video

Learning Targets:

·I can describe how Asia and Europe grew economically and culturally as a result of the Silk Road.

·I can explain how trade routes connecting Africa, Europe and Asia fostered the spread of technology and major world religions.

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Origin

Military plan

  • Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty sent a general to explore the west and form alliances to fight the Mongols.
  • General Zhang Qian returned without allies, but with information about large western trade empires that were eager for Chinese silk.
  • Silk Road began around 100 B.C.E

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Silk

  • Silk-discovered in China, kept secret from the world
  • Silk harvested from silkworms, made into fabric
  • Romans created a high demand for the product (1 ounce of silk for 1 ounce of gold)
  • Eventually silk moths were smuggled out of China and the Romans created their own supply

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  • Silk is one of the softest fabrics in the world.
  • It was a symbol of wealth in the ancient world.
    • What are some current symbols of wealth in today’s society?

SILK

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  • The cocoon is made of a single, unbroken thread.
    • More than a 3,000 ft in length.
  • Inside the worm, silk glands produce liquid silk that becomes hard when it comes in contact with the air.
  • The production of silk fabric video

SILK

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The Route

  • Route from Eastern China to the Mediterranean Sea
  • Connected Europe and Asia
  • Route consisted of many links with many middlemen or merchants along the way
  • People did not travel from one end to the other
  • Merchants became rich as goods moved along the Silk Road

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The Silk Road

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TRADE

SILK &

SPICES

METALS &

GEMS

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Silk Road: Goods FROM Asia TO Europe

  • Silk
  • Porcelain
  • Tea
  • Gems
  • Incense
  • Spices

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Silk Road: Goods FROM Europe TO Asia

  • Glassware
  • Gold
  • Silver
  • Dyes
  • Oils

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Difficulties

  • Slow and tedious-travel was on horses, mules, donkeys, and camels
  • 2.5-4 miles per hour
  • Trip could take up to 6 months
  • Starvation and thirst were dangerous (dehydration

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Difficulties continued

  • Difficult terrain
  • Difficult climates

(sandstorms, mountain

passes, vast grasslands)

  • Threats from wild animals- snakes, wolves
  • Precious goods=bandits and thieves-Protection provided by the Mongols

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Silk Road Trade-Safe or Dangerous?

  • Why would people travel the Silk Road if it was so dangerous?
    • The potential to make so much profit worth the risk.
    • Can you think of any examples in today’s world where people take risks in order to gain wealth?

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Sharing Ideas

  • Religion shared: Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Taoism, Confucianism

  • Knowledge:

medicine, printing,

and engineering

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The Effect of Trade

  • There weren’t any major wars between Europe and Chinese Empires.
  • Why do you think that is?

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THE SILK ROAD:

EFFECTS OF TRADE

  • Trade = Peace
  • Never fight someone you need!

=

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Trading Posts

Kashgar-the fertile oasis allows corn, rice, wheat and cotton, as well as melons, grapes, apricots, peaches and cherries to grow. Various handicrafts such as cotton and silk textiles, leatherwear and pottery are produced in the city and its suburbs. It was a major hub along the great Silk Road as the northern and southern Silk Routes crossed here and caravans departed for Central Asia, India, Pakistan and ancient Persia (current Iran). Kashgar’s livestock market named Ivan Bazaar still has the reputation to be one of the largest and most colorful markets in the region.

from Interactive Map

Dunhuang- last place to stock up and rest before crossing the desert.

The range of imported goods included brocade and silk from Persia, metal-ware, fragrances, incense and a variety of precious stones, such as lapis lazuli (from north eastern Afghanistan), agate (from India), amber (from north east Europe), coral (from the ocean) and pearl (usually from Sri Lanka). Dunhuang was not simply a recipient of trade however, and had a very active export market too. The scrolls refer to a large number of goods that were produced in city and its surrounding regions and sold to merchants, including silks of many varieties, cotton, wool, fur, tea, ceramics, medicine, fragrances, jade, camels, sheep, dye, dried fruits, tools, and embroidery. This unique view of the imports and exports from the markets of Dunhuang illustrates the vibrancy of Silk Road trade along the routes into western China.

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More Trading Posts

Bukhara- Bukhara lies on a crossroads of ancient trade routes that stretched across Central Asia, and was a vital stopping point for merchants on the edge of the Kyzyl Kum (Red Sand) and Kara Kum (Black Sand) deserts. It was one of the most prosperous cities in Central Asia throughout the Middle Ages, and became a centre not only for exchange between merchants but also for culture, scholarship and religious studies. Bukhara also contributed many locally produced goods that enriched Silk Road trade, and was particularly renowned for its textile industry. Karakul lambs' fleeces, silk, cotton, leather, carpets and clothing were all traded from Bukhara, as well as gold embroidery and metal work, and many of these crafts are still practised in the city today.

Bursa- This activity took place, overwhelmingly, at Bursa, and although trade (particularly of raw silk) remained central to Byzantine silk markets, this was nonetheless an innovation that gave the city a special status as provider of this vital commodity.

The production of silk itself in Bursa was not widespread until the late 16th century, when we have the first documentation for the raising of mulberry trees. The only new guild established in the 17th century was that of the silk spinners, which was quite small when first mentioned in 1678. However, silk production in Bursa continued to grow, reaching a peak in the nineteenth century and, even today, silk cocoons are traded in the medieval market place of the Koza Khan.

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Trading posts continued

Bursa- This activity took place, overwhelmingly, at Bursa, and although trade (particularly of raw silk) remained central to Byzantine silk markets, this was nonetheless an innovation that gave the city a special status as provider of this vital commodity.

The production of silk itself in Bursa was not widespread until the late 16th century, when we have the first documentation for the raising of mulberry trees. The only new guild established in the 17th century was that of the silk spinners, which was quite small when first mentioned in 1678. However, silk production in Bursa continued to grow, reaching a peak in the nineteenth century and, even today, silk cocoons are traded in the medieval market place of the Koza Khan.

However, the disruptions resulting from the breakup of the Mongol Empire stimulated the growth of Iranian silk production as a major alternative source for the markets of the West. Italian merchants, notably the Genoese, were key partners in this trade; it is significant that they obtained trading privileges from Ottoman Sultan Orhan in 1352. Merchants from Byzantium (and later the Ottoman Empire) would meet their Iranian counterparts at Bursa, and obtain silk, spices and other eastern products from them.

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Diseases

The three most deadly were probably smallpox, measles, and bubonic plagues.

Small Pox

  • high fever
  • chills
  • headache
  • severe back pain
  • abdominal pain
  • vomiting

These symptoms would go away within two to three days. Then the patient would feel better. However, just as the patient started to feel better, a rash would appear. The rash started on the face and then spread to the hands, forearms, and the main part of the body. The person would be highly contagious until the rash disappeared.

Within two days of appearance, the rash would develop into abscesses that filled with fluid and pus. The abscesses would break open and scab over. The scabs would eventually fall off, leaving pit mark scars. Until the scabs fell off, the person remained contagious.

measels

bubonic plague

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Measles

Symptoms of measles generally appear within 14 days of exposure to the virus. Symptoms include:

A widespread skin rash is a classic sign of measles. This rash can last up to seven days and generally appears within the first three to five days of exposure to the virus.

A measles rash, which appears as red, itchy bumps, commonly develops on the head and slowly spreads to other parts of the body.

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Bubonic Plague

People infected with the plague usually develop flu-like symptoms two to six days after infection. There are other symptoms that can help distinguish the three forms of the plague.

Bubonic plague symptoms

Symptoms of bubonic plague generally appear within two to six days of infection. They include:

  • fever and chills
  • headache
  • muscle pain
  • general weakness
  • seizures

You may also experience painful, swollen lymph glands, called buboes. These typically appear in the groin, armpits, neck, or site of the insect bite or scratch. The buboes are what give bubonic plague its name.

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Cornell Notes

Create your own study questions!

  • What continents did the Silk Road connect?
  • What was the main purpose of the Silk Road?
  • What made silk valuable?
  • Describe the products that traveled along the Silk Road?
  • What was the role of merchants along the Silk Road?
  • What civilization made the Silk Road safe to travel along?
  • What is an example of a cultural effect that trade had on the peoples that used the Silk Road?