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A Chinese man named Zhang Qian is often said to be the Father of the Silk Road.

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Zhang Qian (Father of the Silk Road) Statue

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In 138 B.C.E., a Han leader sent Zhang Qian and 100 other men west.

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Zhang Qian is known as the Father of the Silk Road. His travels helped create a stable trade relationship between China and its neighbors down west.

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Zhang Qian brought back news of places such as Persia, Syria, India, and Rome.

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Over time, Chinese traders traveled even farther west.

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The Silk Road was not one long route, but rather a group of many shorter trade routes between various stops.

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The Eastern Silk Road connected Luoyang to Kashgar in the western part of the Taklimakan Desert.

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Many dangers faced traders traveling crossing the Taklimakan Desert.

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To keep themselves safe, before entering the desert, travelers often formed long groups of camels.

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Silk was the best trading good because it was both light and worth a lot of money.

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Besides silk, the Chinese also traded China Dishware, ornaments, jewelry, and cast-iron cooking objects/products

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The journey west from Kashgar began with a hard expedition across the Pamir Mountains.

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Most of the mountain passes were very thin and dangerous.

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After the Pamir Mountains, the path took explorers through a fertile land in what is now Afghanistan.

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From Ctesiphon, the Silk Road turned northwards and passed all the way through the Syrian Desert.

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The many goods finally reached Antioch and many other Mediterranean trade stops.

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Travelers from Egypt, Arabia, and Persia brought perfumes, cosmetic items, and carpets.

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The Chinese valued Roman glass products highly.

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The Romans also sent large amounts of gold to trade for some chinese silk.

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Eastern Silk Road

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Western Silk Road

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The trade between The East and The West along the Silk Road made cultural dispersal, in which ideas and knowledge spread from a certain culture to others.

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Diets, farming, and agriculture also changed as trade brought new plants into new places.

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The Silk Road also helped to disperse Buddhist beliefs.

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Silk

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These women are creating silk. The Chinese closely protected the secret of how to make silk.

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China India

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The spread of Buddhism from India to China is an example of cultural dispersion. These two Buddha statues from China and India help reflect the spread of ideas.

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Help spread Buddhism to the Unreached parts of China. For more info call (012) 345-6789

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You too can trade! Just call
(987) 654-3210