Theme 3: Religion and Trade on the Silk Road

Silk Road

Ancient trade network linking China, India, Central Asia, Middle East, Europe, North & East Africa.

Silk Road Importance

Facilitated the exchange of goods, culture, technology, and religion.

Silk Road Name Origin

Named after silk, a major export from China.

Decline of Silk Road

Declined due to sea trade routes and the fall of the Mongol Empire.

Length of Silk Road

Over 4,000 miles, passing through mountains, deserts, and river valleys.

Key Regions of Silk Road

China - Origin of silk production (Chang'an, Dunhuang).

Key Regions of Silk Road

Central Asia - Trade hubs like Kashgar, Samarkand, Bukhara.

Key Regions of Silk Road

Middle East - Persia & Mesopotamia served as trade and cultural links.

Key Regions of Silk Road

Europe - Goods reached Rome, Byzantine Empire, and Venice.

Maritime Routes

Connected China to India, Arabia, and Africa.

Economic Impact of Silk Road

Wealthy trading cities developed (e.g., Samarkand, Kashgar, Chang'an).

Cultural Impact of Silk Road

Strengthened economies of China, Persia, and Rome.

Scientific Exchanges

Papermaking & printing (China → Middle East → Europe).

Political Strength from Silk Road

Empires relied on Silk Road trade for economic & military power (e.g., Han, Kushan, Roman, Sassanid).

Urban Growth from Silk Road

Creation of trade hubs, caravanserais (roadside inns), roads, bridges, ports.

Achaemenid Empire

Founded by Cyrus the Great; stretched from India to the Mediterranean.

Darius I

Built the Royal Road, later part of the Silk Road.

Hellenic Empires

Seleucid, Greco-Bactrian, Indo-Greek Kingdoms (from Alexander the Great's conquests).

Han Dynasty

Expanded into Central Asia, securing trade routes.

Zhang Qian

His expeditions (138-126 BCE) helped establish trade links.

Kushan Empire

Controlled Bactria & Northern India, encouraging multicultural trade.

Parthian Empire

Acted as a trade mediator between China, India, and Rome.

Roman Empire

Imported silk (China) & spices (India), increasing trade demand.

Islamic Caliphates

Rashidun, Umayyad, Abbasid Caliphates expanded trade across the Silk Road.

Ibn Battuta

Moroccan explorer who traveled 75,000+ miles across Africa, Asia, & the Middle East.

Marco Polo

Venetian merchant who traveled to China (Yuan Dynasty).

Spread of Buddhism

Origin: India (5th-4th century BCE).

Spread of Christianity

Spread via missionaries & merchants eastward from the Roman Empire.

Spread of Islam

Spread after 632 CE through military expansion & trade.