Difference between revisions of "Silk Road"
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| − | The Silkroad (or {{Wiki|Silk Road}}; {{Wiki|Chinese}}: Sichou zhi lu 絲綢之路) or rather the "silkroads" is the most famous and longest trade route of | + | The [[Silkroad]] (or {{Wiki|Silk Road}}; {{Wiki|Chinese}}: [[Sichou zhi lu]] [[絲綢之路]]) or rather the "[[silkroads]]" is the most famous and [[longest trade route of human history]]. |
It served as a [[path]] not only for items and goods being transportated from [[east]] to [[west]] and [[vice versa]], but also as a door for foreign [[ideas]], foreign [[religions]] ([[Buddhism]], {{Wiki|Manicheism}}, {{Wiki|Zoroastrianism}}, {{Wiki|Nestorianism}}, {{Wiki|Islam}}), foreign cultures, foreign [[knowledge]] ([[Indian]] and Arab {{Wiki|astronomy}} and [[mathematics]]) | It served as a [[path]] not only for items and goods being transportated from [[east]] to [[west]] and [[vice versa]], but also as a door for foreign [[ideas]], foreign [[religions]] ([[Buddhism]], {{Wiki|Manicheism}}, {{Wiki|Zoroastrianism}}, {{Wiki|Nestorianism}}, {{Wiki|Islam}}), foreign cultures, foreign [[knowledge]] ([[Indian]] and Arab {{Wiki|astronomy}} and [[mathematics]]) | ||
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The most important good leaving [[China]] and wandering to the [[west]] was the {{Wiki|silk}}, hence the [[name]] of the road(s), but {{Wiki|Chinese}} [[knowledge]] also left [[China]] to wander to the [[west]] (bookprinting, {{Wiki|moxibustion}}, rhubarb, paper making, {{Wiki|compass}}, porcelain). | The most important good leaving [[China]] and wandering to the [[west]] was the {{Wiki|silk}}, hence the [[name]] of the road(s), but {{Wiki|Chinese}} [[knowledge]] also left [[China]] to wander to the [[west]] (bookprinting, {{Wiki|moxibustion}}, rhubarb, paper making, {{Wiki|compass}}, porcelain). | ||
| − | The [[name]] "silkroad" was first created by the [[German]] [[scholar]] | + | The [[name]] "[[silkroad]]" was first created by the [[German]] [[scholar]] [[Richthofen]] in 1877. |
| + | From the begin of the 20th century on {{Wiki|archeologists}} like the Swede [[Sven Hedin]] started to rediscover the old trade routes that had stretched from the {{Wiki|Chinese}} capital [[Chang'an]] [[長安]] ({{Wiki|modern}} [[Xi'an]]/[[Shaanxi]]) to [[Persia]] and the {{Wiki|Mediterranean Sea}} from the {{Wiki|Han Dynasty}} [[漢]] to the end of the [[Tang period]]. | ||
| − | The [[silk road]] is a [[name]] coined by [[German]] geographer F. Von Richtofen in 1877, but it refers to a trade network used in antiquity. | + | |
| + | The [[silk road]] is a [[name]] coined by [[German]] geographer [[F. Von Richtofen]] in 1877, but it refers to a trade network used in antiquity. | ||
It was through the [[silk road]] that {{Wiki|imperial}} {{Wiki|Chinese}} {{Wiki|silk}} reached luxury-seeking Romans, who also added {{Wiki|flavor}} to their [[food]] with spices from the [[East]]. Trade went two ways. [[Indo-Europeans]] may have brought written [[language]] and horse-chariots to [[China]]. | It was through the [[silk road]] that {{Wiki|imperial}} {{Wiki|Chinese}} {{Wiki|silk}} reached luxury-seeking Romans, who also added {{Wiki|flavor}} to their [[food]] with spices from the [[East]]. Trade went two ways. [[Indo-Europeans]] may have brought written [[language]] and horse-chariots to [[China]]. | ||
Latest revision as of 03:03, 1 December 2015
The Silkroad (or Silk Road; Chinese: Sichou zhi lu 絲綢之路) or rather the "silkroads" is the most famous and longest trade route of human history.
It served as a path not only for items and goods being transportated from east to west and vice versa, but also as a door for foreign ideas, foreign religions (Buddhism, Manicheism, Zoroastrianism, Nestorianism, Islam), foreign cultures, foreign knowledge (Indian and Arab astronomy and mathematics)
and foreign arts (music, dance, painting, handicrafts) enriching China and for Chinese culture and knowledge leaving the motherland and spreading to the west.
The most important good leaving China and wandering to the west was the silk, hence the name of the road(s), but Chinese knowledge also left China to wander to the west (bookprinting, moxibustion, rhubarb, paper making, compass, porcelain).
The name "silkroad" was first created by the German scholar Richthofen in 1877.
From the begin of the 20th century on archeologists like the Swede Sven Hedin started to rediscover the old trade routes that had stretched from the Chinese capital Chang'an 長安 (modern Xi'an/Shaanxi) to Persia and the Mediterranean Sea from the Han Dynasty 漢 to the end of the Tang period.
The silk road is a name coined by German geographer F. Von Richtofen in 1877, but it refers to a trade network used in antiquity.
It was through the silk road that imperial Chinese silk reached luxury-seeking Romans, who also added flavor to their food with spices from the East. Trade went two ways. Indo-Europeans may have brought written language and horse-chariots to China.
Most of the study of Ancient History is divided into the discrete stories of city-states, but with the Silk Road, we have a major over-arching bridge.
