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Chang'an, Xian, China (ancient capital of China)

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Historical trade hub

The starting point of Silk Route under Emperor Wu (Han Dynasty). Zhang Qian, the envoy sent by the emperor, established the first connections with Central Asia.

The Chang'an-Tianshan corridor of Silk Route: WHS status by UNESCO

Silk, porcelain, paper exports.

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Historical trade hub and cultural exchange point

Gateway into the deserts of Central Asia.

Famous for its Buddhist cave art.

One of the main stops for caravans.

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Historical trade hub and cultural exchange point

Crossroads where northern and southern branches of Silk Route met.

One of the main caravan hubs.

Cultural meeting point: Buddhism, Islam, Christianity passed through. Buddhism spread here from India to Central Asia and China.

Traders, monks, and pilgrims crossed paths, mixing languages and traditions.

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Historical trade hub

Gateway between Asia and Europe

Taxed goods entering Europe

After Ottomans conquered in 1453, trade shifted from land to sea

Modern Istanbul STILL sits at one of the world's most strategic choke points (Bosporus Strait)

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Historical trade hub

The endpoint of silk route in Europe.

Luxury trade: silk, spices, glass.

Middleman between the East and Europe

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Historical trade hub and cultural exchange point

Oasis city (along with Bukhara) where merchants stopped

During Pax Mongolica, became cultural and scientific hubs

Cultural meeting point: Persians, Arabs, Chinese, Turks.

Astronomy, Islamic learning and architecture thrived.

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Painting of what Baghdad could've looked like back then

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Historical trade hub and cultural exchange point

Capital of Abbasid Caliphate

Intellectual (knowledge + science) and commercial hub in the Islamic Golden Age

Modern Baghdad reflects this legacy (cultural and economic hub)

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Cultural exchange point

Maritime hub; Arab, Indian and Chinese traders met here

Symbol of multicultural exchange

Seized by the Portuguese in 1511

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Modern equivalent of Malacca

Controls Strait of Malacca, one of the busiest shipping lanes on earth.

Container-shipping and finance.

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Modern equivalent

Manufacturing + logistics hub in South-East Asia.

Plays a role in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which is basically the meant to be the modern silk route.

Links East Asian products with global markets.

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Modern equivalent

Re-export hub linking Asia, Europe and Africa.

Thrives by connecting regions rather than producing goods (similar to many silk route cities back then)