The Silk Road began during the Western Han Dynasty (around the 2nd century
BCE). It was officially established after Emperor Wu of Han sent Zhang Qian on
diplomatic missions to the Western Regions (Central Asia). Zhang Qian’s
expeditions (138 BCE and 119 BCE) opened trade routes connecting China with
Central Asia, West Asia, and eventually Europe.
Starting and Ending Points
• Starting Point: Chang’an (modern-day Xi’an, China), later extended to Luoyang during the Eastern Han Dynasty.
• Ending Points:
• Land Route: The Mediterranean (e.g., Rome, Constantinople).
• Southern Route: India.
• Northern Route: Central Asia and Eastern Europe.
Major Routes and Key Regions
The Silk Road was not a single path but a vast network of trade routes:
1. Overland Silk Road:
• Hexi Corridor: From Chang’an through Dunhuang and the Jade Gate Pass into the Western Regions.
• Southern and Northern Routes:
◦ Southern Route: Along the Tarim Basin (Khotan, Yarkand).
◦ Northern Route: Through Turpan, Kucha, and Kashgar.
• Central and West Asia: Crossed the Pamir Mountains, passed through Samarkand (Uzbekistan), Persia (Iran), and reached Parthia (ancient Persia) and Rome.
2. Maritime Silk Road:
• Flourished during the Tang and Song Dynasties.
• Connected China (Guangzhou, Quanzhou) with Southeast Asia, India, the Arabian Peninsula, and East Africa.
Golden Age and Decline
• Peak Periods:
• Han & Tang Dynasties: The Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE) saw unprecedented trade, with Chang’an as a cosmopolitan hub.
• Yuan Dynasty: Under Mongol rule, the Pax Mongolica revived trade, allowing figures like Marco Polo to travel freely.
• Decline:
• Ming & Qing Dynasties: Sea trade (via European ships) replaced overland routes.
• Ottoman Empire’s Rise: Blocked traditional land routes to Europe.
Impact and Legacy
1. Economic Exchange:
• China exported: Silk, porcelain, tea, paper.
• Imported: Glass, gold, spices, horses, gems.
2. Cultural Diffusion:
• Buddhism spread from India to China.
• Technologies: Papermaking, gunpowder moved westward.
• Art & Science: Greco-Buddhist art, astronomy, and medicine were shared.
3. Modern Significance:
• Inspired China’s "Belt and Road Initiative" (BRI).
• Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
