The Silk Roads

What are two developments that reduced travel risks during the classical era?

1) Rulers invested heavily in the construction of roads and bridges. 2) Classical societies pacified large stretches of Eurasia and North Africa.

Name an example of a classical empire.

Han Empire, Achaemenid Empire, Roman Empire, Kushan Empire.

What was the significance of the silk roads after the classical empires?

The silk roads reached their zenith during the post-classical period (500-1453 AD).

What were the silk roads primarily known for?

They were known for the exchange of high-quality silk from China.

How did merchants typically travel the silk roads?

They traveled in caravans, in groups, often using two-hump camels.

What was the starting point of the main silk road?

Chang’an.

What geographical feature split the main silk road into two branches?

The Taklamakan Desert.

Did most merchants travel the entire distance of the silk road?

Very few merchants ever traveled the entire distance.

What other routes were included in the silk roads network?

A network of sea-lanes.

What commodities were highly valued along the silk roads?

Fine spices such as cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon.

Why were spices important in classical times?

They had many uses beyond flavoring, such as serving as drugs, perfumes, and preservatives.

What did China and Southeast Asia seek from the west?

Gold, silver, and ivory.

What significant invention was developed in China?

The art of paper making.

Who mass-produced paper after learning from the Chinese?

The Islamic world.

What was the most popular religion along the silk roads?

Buddhism.

Which form of Buddhism was prominent on the silk roads?

Mahayana Buddhism.

What concept became integral to Mahayana Buddhism?

The concept of bodhisattvas.

How did merchants influence the spread of religion along the maritime silk roads?

They played prominent roles in spreading Buddhism and Hinduism from India into Southeast Asia.

Who was instrumental in spreading Buddhism in China?

Xuanzang.

What did Xuanzang do for Buddhism in China?

He translated Buddhist treaties and helped proselytize wide adoption of Buddhism.

What is the term for the Christianity that spread eastward along the silk roads?

Nestorian Christianity.

What was Manichaeism?

A faith derived from the Prophet Mani, blending Zoroastrian, Christian, and Buddhist elements.

What was one major downside of the silk roads?

The rapid spread of infectious diseases.

What impact did disease spread along the silk roads have on empires?

It contributed to weakening the Roman Empire and caused instability in China after the collapse of the Han dynasty.

What type of camels were typically used for travel along the silk roads?

Two-hump camels.

What were the silk roads collectively known for?

They were a network of trade routes connecting different regions.

What characterized the trade along the silk roads?

Exchanging not just goods but also cultures, ideas, and religions.

When did the classical era occur?

500 BC - 500 AD.

What are some examples of post-classical empires?

Tang Empire, Byzantine Empire, Abbasid Empire.

What contributed to the instability in China post-Han dynasty?

The spread of infectious diseases along the silk roads.

What served as aphrodisiacs and magical potions in addition to flavoring?

Spices.

How did the growth of roads and bridges affect trade?

It stimulated long-distance trade by making travel safer and easier.

Which empire is often seen as a classical empire but is not recognized as such in test contexts?

Any empire not explicitly listed such as the Tang Empire or Byzantine Empire.

What geographic area did the silk roads connect?

Eurasia and North Africa.

What two religions significantly spread along the silk roads?

Buddhism and Hinduism.

What event marked the end of the classical era?

The beginning of the post-classical period.