Ancient Commerce in China
Ancient Commerce in China
The Silk Road
Antonio Camargo
SiMBA 2011
____________________
Jan / 2012
Table of Contents
1- The Route 3
2- Name and Purpose 4
3- Routes 4
4- Mongol Age 6
5- The Peak, Decline and Sea Route 7
6- Nowadays 8
7- Conclusion 8
8- References 9
1- The route
The Silk Road, or Silk Route, is the most famous and important historically trading route of ancient Chinese civilization. This historical network of interlinking, with more than 4000 miles, between East, South, Western Asia with the Mediterranean and European world, as well as parts of North and East Africa began to be used under the Han Dynasty (202 BC – AD 220).
Originally, the Chinese trade silk occurred internally within the empire, but the caravans were often attacked by central Asian tribes, hoping to find some valuable commodities. In order to protect these caravans, the Han Dynasty extended its military defenses further into Central Asia. Later came the idea to expand the silk trade to central Asia.
Silk Road extension: The land routes are red, and the water routes are blue
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org
2- Name and Purpose
The Silk Road gets its name from the lucrative Chinese silk trade that was the major reason to sustain the route for so wide area. Some scholars prefer the term “Silk Routes” because of the several network of routes existed there.
Trading silk was not the only purpose of the Silk Road, many other commodities were also traded. In addition to silk the route carried other precious goods like gold and other precious metals, ivory, precious stones and glass, exotic animals and plants were trade as well. Indeed the silk was the most remarkable goods, mainly among the Romans, it became very popular in Rome for its soft texture and attractiveness making the Romans sees the route mainly as a Silk Route. Although this fact, the name “Silk Road” originated in the
The Silk Road
Antonio Camargo
SiMBA 2011
____________________
Jan / 2012
Table of Contents
1- The Route 3
2- Name and Purpose 4
3- Routes 4
4- Mongol Age 6
5- The Peak, Decline and Sea Route 7
6- Nowadays 8
7- Conclusion 8
8- References 9
1- The route
The Silk Road, or Silk Route, is the most famous and important historically trading route of ancient Chinese civilization. This historical network of interlinking, with more than 4000 miles, between East, South, Western Asia with the Mediterranean and European world, as well as parts of North and East Africa began to be used under the Han Dynasty (202 BC – AD 220).
Originally, the Chinese trade silk occurred internally within the empire, but the caravans were often attacked by central Asian tribes, hoping to find some valuable commodities. In order to protect these caravans, the Han Dynasty extended its military defenses further into Central Asia. Later came the idea to expand the silk trade to central Asia.
Silk Road extension: The land routes are red, and the water routes are blue
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org
2- Name and Purpose
The Silk Road gets its name from the lucrative Chinese silk trade that was the major reason to sustain the route for so wide area. Some scholars prefer the term “Silk Routes” because of the several network of routes existed there.
Trading silk was not the only purpose of the Silk Road, many other commodities were also traded. In addition to silk the route carried other precious goods like gold and other precious metals, ivory, precious stones and glass, exotic animals and plants were trade as well. Indeed the silk was the most remarkable goods, mainly among the Romans, it became very popular in Rome for its soft texture and attractiveness making the Romans sees the route mainly as a Silk Route. Although this fact, the name “Silk Road” originated in the
References: The Silk Road: Linking Europe and Asia Through Trade, Oracle ThinkQuest Education Foundation Wild Oliver, The Silk Road (1992) <http://www.ess.uci.edu> Silk Road Article <http://en.wikipedia.org>