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In order to learn more in the westward expansion, zhang qian was sent on a journey that would cost him 13 years, and 99 of the original 100 men sent with him. He would go on to travel again after telling great tales of the journey, only this time the historian Ssu-ma Ch'ien came along and documented what would later be dubbed Shiji (Records of the Historian)

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It was the Han Dynasty that earns much of the credit from the usage of the silk road, many of the imports that had affected ancient Chinese culture came during the Han era and would make a significant impact to the civilization

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Animals like elephants and lions were also new imports brought in to ancient China, something the people had not seen before

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Chinese influence went far and wide, even affecting the Roman empire, whom became obsessed with silk clothing

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As mentioned before the silk road contributed more then just Chinese goods, as all participating merchants from different cultures brought their own individual goods in and influenced other early civilizations

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Early artwork of Hsi Ling Shi, otherwise known as Empress Leizu.

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Historical figure Marco Polo himself traveled through the famed silk road to get to ancient China, where he learned just how advanced the Chinese empire was compared to the rest of the world at the time.

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Silk clothing went farther than just the first empire, shown in most art pieces of ancient china. Mainly worn by those of higher class the material has not lost it's significance in centuries.

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Empress Leizu was dubbed "The Lady of the Silk worm" and "The Goddess of Silk Making" for her significant discoveries with silk and the silk loom

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An early silk loom, Hsi Ling Shi is given credit for the invention, and also for the silk reel. Both of which were used to spindle the silk to make fine clothes

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Silk was not the only good traded on the silk road, many different items from different cultures also spread their goods that were not known or available

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A portrait of a mulberry tree, earned it's significance from the silkworms that gathered on it to eat the leaves

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A silk worm raveling in its silk cocoon on a mulberry tree 

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The Silk Road affected and left a rather large mark on greater ancient Asia. The significance from new fruit introduced to different cultures, to historical figures like Marco Polo learning from ancient China to bring back to Venice. All stemming from the Goddess of Silk herself, Empress Hsi Ling Shi.

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Chinese women working the silk to be then placed through the silk reel, an invention said to have been made by Empress Hsi Ling Shi

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Emperor Huang Di, whom planted more of the Mulberry tress as requested by Hsi Ling Shi allowing more discovery on silk

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Early middle easterners in the midst of their travel through the silk road, the lengths traveled for a prized texture

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A Painting showing a silkworm which had fallen into Hsi Ling Shi's tea being pulled out and examined closely, specifically at the silk unraveling from the insect

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Lewis, Jone Johnson. "A Chinese Empress and the Discovery of Silk-Making." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/chinese-empress-discovers-silk-making-3529402 (accessed September 16, 2021).

Mingren, Wu. “The Legend of Leizu and the Origins of Luxurious Chinese Silk.” Ancient Origins. https://www.ancient-origins.net/history/legend-leizu-and-origins-luxurious-chinese-silk-005475 (accesed September 17, 2021).

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Authentic silk ware from ancient China preserved in a museum. The material lasted hundreds of years proving just how important this texture was during those times.

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A map of the 7,000 mile long silk road, and just how far the influences and monopoly a single material can provide