In 138 BCE, Emperor Wu of Han sought a military alliance with the Yuezhi people to help defeat nomadic raiders. He sent his envoy, Zhang Qian, on a perilous mission west where he was held captive by the hostile Xiongnu for over a decade. After thirteen years and a journey of thousands of miles, he returned. He had failed to secure the alliance, but brought back valuable knowledge, describing trade routes connecting China to distant civilizations and introducing new crops like grapes. His discovery of the ‘Heavenly Horses’ in the Ferghana Valley unintentionally opened the path that became the Silk Road.
The Silk Road: A Journey Across Continents
The Silk Road, the network of trade routes that linked China to the Mediterranean and carried silk, paper, religions and ideas for 1,500 years.
Chapter 1
The Quest for Heavenly Horses
0:41
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the Silk Road created?
It began unintentionally. In 138 BCE, the Chinese Emperor Wu of Han sent an envoy named Zhang Qian west to find allies and prized 'Heavenly Horses' for his military. Though the diplomatic mission failed, Zhang's 13-year journey revealed the network of trade routes that would become the Silk Road.
What ideas, besides goods, were exchanged on the Silk Road?
Religions and technologies were major exchanges. Buddhism reached China from India during the 1st century CE, and was later enriched by pilgrims like Xuanzang who brought back the sacred texts that helped it flourish. The secret of papermaking was transmitted from China to the Islamic world after the Battle of Talas in 751 CE, revolutionizing record-keeping.
What led to the decline of the Silk Road?
The rise of maritime trade led to its decline. When Vasco da Gama found a direct sea route to India in 1498, it became cheaper and more efficient to transport goods by ship. This allowed European traders to bypass the overland routes and their taxes, causing the great Silk Road cities to lose their economic importance.
To continue the story, download the Chunks Microlearning app
Or get it straight away:
Download on iOS
Download on Android