Transcript The Silk Road

The Silk Road
The World’s First Internet
World’s First Internet
• To the many merchants, wandering armies, and
adventurers of our ancient civilizations, the Silk
Road served as an important communication link
between cultures and economies. During the time
of the Han Dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE), this trade
route was possibly the world's first "Internet,"
linking Asia to Europe and Africa.
Silk Road vs. Internet
• People commonly use the
internet to shop, to
communicate, for entertainment,
and even to see new parts of the
world.
• The Silk Road provided the
same options, they just
happened a little slower!
Production of Silk
• Do you own anything that is made from silk? Do you
know how those products are made?
– Sericulture or silk production has a long and colorful
history unknown to most people. For centuries the West
knew very little about silk and the people who made it.
– Go to this link and read more about silk production
http://www.silkroadfoundation.org/toc/index.html
Cities, ports, and towns
• There were many places to stop along the Silk
Road. Here merchants could buy and sell their
goods.
• These cities grew as more and more people began
to move along the trade route.
• Use this website to read about important trade cities
along the route:
http://depts.washington.edu/silkroad/exhibit/index2.html
Empires and Cultures
• The Silk Road is an old trade route. There are many
cultures and empires that have that have made
fortunes from the international trade.
• More than just goods, “Non-Tangible” things were
traded too. Things like religions, ideas, and
knowledge.
Go back to
http://depts.washington.edu/silkroad/exhibit/timeline.html
Foreign Influences on Chinese Culture
• China was heavily influenced by new
ideas and goods brought from far off
places.
• One important item that was imported
by the Han Chinese was the camel.
The camel was good at traveling across the
rough terrain of China. It was also very good a
carrying heavy amounts, which appealed to the
traders.
The camel eventually became associated with
wealth since many traders who used the animal
ended up very rich
Foreign Influences on Chinese Culture (Cont)
• Chinese architecture was also
shaped by interactions along the
Silk Road.
• After visiting Buddhist
monasteries, Chinese travelers
told stories of the giant Buddhist
temples. Many Chinese shrines
and government buildings were
designed in the Indian Buddhist
style
• They called these buildings
pagodas
Chinese Buddhist Temples
These are only a few examples of Buddhist temples
and shrines. Unfortunately, many Buddhist temples
have been destroyed over the years due to
Communist rule in China.
Temples from Around Asia
Cambodia
Foreign Influences on Chinese Culture (Cont)
• One of the most important ideas that
came along the Silk Road was the
religion Buddhism.
• The religion entered China during the
Han Dynasty and gained in popularity.
• The influence of Buddhism grew to so
much that vast amounts of financial ($)
and human hours were used on the
creation of impressive works of art and
elaborate temples.
http://depts.washington.edu/chinaciv/bud/5budmain.htm
Images of Buddha
By the time Buddhism reached
China, images and statues of the
Buddha played a major role in
devotional practices. The Buddha is
usually shown sitting, without fancy
clothes or jewelry. Otherworldly
features are highlighted while
human characteristics are deemphasized.
http://depts.washington.edu/chinaciv/bud/5budmain.htm