SILK ROAD

ADRIAN WILLIAMS

MRS. WHITE
DECEMBER 17, 2012

Silk road ---The Road that changed the way of trade I. Introduction a. b. Anecdote - - where would we be Facts about trade system

c. Thesis As a result to the Silk Road, it is evident that trade was never the same. The Silk Road is a key factor for how the world trades today. II. Compare and contrast silk road trade to modern day trade a. Topic sentence---- From riding on horseback to riding in electrical cars, the Silk Road was an influence or people who invented these major uses of transportation. b. c. Travel---What did people travel on compared to now. Eating--- What did people eat while they were traveling on the Silk Road.

d. Economy--- People who traded on the Silk Road could only make money off of their country and now they can make money off of other people. III. When did the silk road come into vision a. b. Han Dynasty----The routes were gradually formed throughout the Han Dynasty. Tang Dynasty---The road rose to its most flourishing period in history.

c. Yuan Dynasty----The route regained its vigor and became prosperous once again. IV. What was the Silk Road meant for. a. b. c. V. Political Economical Religious

How did the silk road change history a. c. Trade political b. religious

VI. Conclusion- As a result to the Silk Road, it is evident that trade was never the same. The Silk Road is a key factor for how the world trades today.

Imagine what the world would be like without trade or without transportation. The Silk Road made a big change in history. It took place in the 1st century B.C to the 15th century A.D. the Silk Road linked to China, Central Asia, Northern India, and the Parthian and Roman Empires. It correspondingly connected to the Yellow River Valley and the Mediterranean Sea. It passed through the countries that are now Iran, Iraq and Syria. The major Sea route started from China to South China, then into the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf. Silk, the most luxurious fabric of all, was almost exclusively made in China until the secret was revealed in the 7th century to the west(chinahighlights.com). Silk was traded for medicines, perfumes, slaves, and precious stones(chinahighlights.com).Sik was a cherished thread item because it was light and easy to carry. According to a Chinese legend, silk was discovered in 2460 B.C. by the 14-year-old Chinese Empress Xi Ling Shi who lived in a palace with a garden with many mulberry trees(factsanddetails.com). Spices were in the category of valuable trading items. Pepper, cloves, mace, cumin, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and saffron were common spices traded. In 1877, it was named 'the Silk Road' by Ferdinand Von Richthofen, an eminent German geographer(travelchinaguide.com). There were four major cities ton the Silk Road. There was Xian, Lanzhou, Luoyang, and Xinjiang. These cities were located on the Northwest part of China. As a result to the Silk Road, it is evident that trade was never the same. The Silk Road is a key factor for how the world trades today. From riding on horseback to riding in electrical cars, the Silk Road was an influence on people who invented these major uses of transportation. Before the Silk Road

came to be, goods were traded instead of bartered (factsanddetails.com). Silk was a cherished tread item because it was light and easy to carry. Even though Silk was light but it was very valuable. Spices were in the category of valuable trading items. As a result to the Silk Road, it is evident that trade was never the same. The Silk Road is a key factor for how the world trades today. Transportation through the years has changed a lot. Back when the Silk Road was still thriving, people traveled in caravans. Caravans are a group of people traveling together for safety especially across a desert on camels. If you were traveling on the Silk Road you did not want to travel on your own. The Bacturim camel was the most commonly used animal for transportation. The camel has two humps and two layers of skin. A Bacturim camel can go up to a week without food and water(factsanddetails.com). When traveling in a caravan, five to twelve camels were liked together with ropes. The caravan leader often rides and even sleeps on the first camel. A bell is tied to the last camel in the line. That way if the caravan leader dozes off and there is a sudden silence the leader is alerted that someone may be trying to steal the camel at the end of the line(factsanddetails.com). If you were hungry what would you do? You would probably go to the store or to a fast food place to get something to eat. Back when the Silk Road was still thriving people did not have that option. People lived of of meat, fruit, and vegetables. There food spoiled easily because they did not have a source of refrigeration. People farmed vegetation and domesticated animals. To make sure that their plants were healthy, they used a system called irrigation to water their plants. Flooding happened every now and then. When the land was flooded it made the soil rich and good for farming. People who traded on the Silk Road could only make

money off of their country and then they started making money off of other people. If you are the only one that has something that everybody wants or needs, and you are selling it for a high price you will get a great deal of business. But if someone else comes along and is selling the same thing that you are but with a lower price, your business will go downward. Currency was used to pay for something you wanted to buy. Its like our modern day but instead of using dollars, quarters, and other types of money they used items like shells, spices and other belongings like that. From Switzerland to Australia China has one of the best economies in the world. The Silk Road began in the Han dynasty. Trade in the Silk Road grew under the Western Han Dynasty era in the first and second centuries AD. The routes of the Silk Road were gradually formed during the Han Dynasty. Wu Di the Chinese emperor responsible for the development of the Silk Road, hailed from the Han Dynasty, which rose to power in 206 BC and lasted until 220 AD. Another dynasty the Silk Road took place under was the Tang Dynasty. In the early Tang dynasty the Silk Road was controlled by the Tuque tribe, allying with small states in the Western Region against the government, and disrupting trade(chinahighlights.com). Although the Silk Road during the Tang dynasty had somewhat of a fearful reputation for traveling and trading, it actually thrived on during the Tang rule. The road rose to its most flourishing period in history. Because Monk Xuanzang saw for himself the true existence of favorable and receptive behavior of the people on the Silk Road, he was able to build relationships with neighboring tribes and continue business trading for many years during the Tang dynasty rule. The last major dynasty the

Silk Road thrived under was the Yuan dynasty. Under the Yuan dynasty the Silk Road regained its vigor and became prosperous once again. Trading became highly advanced with the invention of the passport which allowed outside merchants protection of their trade and free movement of the country(chinahighlights.com). As land trading became more risky more traders relied on dispersing and trading their products via water transportation. The Silk Road changed the world as far as economics, religion, and trading. Many cultures and philosophies were passed on as travelers from many different places partake of the many opportunities that were available on the Silk Road. As far as economics, the silk trade was mainly between the Asian and European Empires. More countries became involved and with the fall of the Roman Empire, other countries were formed and benefited from the contact from relationships built through the Silk Road. Religious views were also spread along this route during this time. Some religions that were spread were confucianism, daoism, legalism, and buddhism. Trading on the Silk Road consisted primarily of silk. As time passed and more countries and tribes became involved and brought in their prized possessions. From riding to horseback to riding in electric cars. It might have took a long time for these inventions to happen but it was worth it. Without the Silk Road China's economy would not be thriving the way it is now. The Silk Road was the start of that. The dynasties that were ruled were some examples of how people came to rule. If we did not figure out how to plant vegetation all we would be were meat eaters. Even though trading is an old school way to getting what you want, it is

still used. You may not know but you might trade every day. From when you trade items with your friends at the lunch tables to two sports teams trading players. The Silk Road is a key factor for how the world trades today. Political history, economic institutions, art, religions, technology, and geography all can be discussed courtesy of the Silk Roads, and many Asian civilizations can be interrelated through this glorious and colorful vehicle(asian-studies.org). As a result to the Silk Road, it is evident that trade was never the same. Today the Silk Road still tells many stories of ancient times, and the exchange of cultures(chinahighlights.com). The Silk Road also facilitated the transmission from one to culture to another of music and dance, language, written scripts, and artistic and craft styles(factsanddetails.com). The Silk Road is a key factor for how the world trades, the transportation that we have, and the kind of food we eat.