Silk Road Flashcards

Silk Road

An ancient network of trade routes connecting the East and West, facilitating the exchange of goods, ideas, and culture.

Han Dynasty

The dynasty during which the Silk Road was established, lasting from 206 BCE to 220 CE.

Zhang Qian

Chinese envoy whose missions to Central Asia led to the expansion of the Silk Road.

Key Hubs of the Silk Road

Significant locations along the route including Chang'an (Xi'an), Samarkand, and Antioch.

Spice Routes

Maritime routes that connected Southeast Asia, India, and the Arabian Peninsula.

Silk

The most famous commodity traded from the East, used as currency and a symbol of high status.

Technological Exports from China

Includes paper and gunpowder which transformed Western societies.

Religious Spread via Silk Road

Facilitated the spread of Buddhism from India to China and Southeast Asia, as well as later Islam and Christianity.

Karez system

Irrigation technique exchanged among civilizations along the Silk Road.

Black Death

A major epidemic spread along the Silk Road in the 14th century.

Political Instability

Fragmentation of the Mongol Empire and rise of the Ottoman Empire that contributed to the decline of the Silk Road.

Legacy of the Silk Road

Considered the precursor to modern globalization, fostering the first true intercontinental dialogue.