Linking Asia to Europe

The Silk Road

Origins

The Chinese began trading silk internally, within the empire. To carry the silk to the western regions they would use Caravans. The Caravans were often attacked by, Central Asian tribes, who were looking for valuable goods. This resulted in the Han Dynasty expanding their military defense further into Central Asia from 135 to 90 BC in order to protect these caravans.

Chan Ch'ien was the first known Chinese traveler to make contact with the Central Asian tribes, later came up with the idea to expand the silk trade to include these lesser tribes and therefore forge alliances with these Central Asian nomads. This lead to the creation of the Silk Road. The Chinese were able to use their silk to give as gifts to Roman Asian governments.

Connecting

The Silk Road was 700 miles long, spanning from and connection China, Central Asia, Northern India, and the Parthian and Roman Empires. It connected the Yellow River Valley to the Mediterranean Sea and passed through places such as Chinese cities Kansu and Sinkiang and present-day countries Iran, Iraq and Syria.

Indians in the Ganges River valley played the role of the Middlemen. This helped to increase the Han expansion into Central Asia.

The Silk Road's Decline

By 760 AD, during the T'ang Dynasty, trade along the Silk Road had declined.The Chinese used silk to trade for medicines, perfumes, and slaves as well as rare stones. As overland trade became increasingly dangerous, and overseas trade became more popular, trade along the Silk Road declined. While the Chinese did maintain a silk-fur trade with the Russians north of the original Silk Route, by the end of the fourteenth century, trade and travel along the road had decreased.