The Silk RoadsThe Silk Roads

Cross-Cultural ExchangesCross-Cultural Exchanges

K.M.H.S.K.M.H.S.AP World HistoryAP World HistoryMrs. FarbacherMrs. Farbacher

Silk RoadsSilk Roads

Essential QuestionsEssential Questions

• Why were the silk roads important in Why were the silk roads important in world history?world history?

• How did the silk roads facilitate How did the silk roads facilitate religious diffusion?religious diffusion?

• What role did the silk roads play in What role did the silk roads play in biological diffusion?biological diffusion?

• How did the control of trade contribute How did the control of trade contribute to the rise in political power in the to the rise in political power in the region?region?

A Chronology In AsiaA Chronology In Asia

• c. 3c. 3rdrd BCE BCE Spread Buddhism SE Spread Buddhism SE AsiaAsia

• c. 2c. 2ndnd BCE BCE Spread Buddhism C. Spread Buddhism C. AsiaAsia

• 139-126139-126 Travels of Zhang QianTravels of Zhang Qian

BCE BCE • c. 1c. 1stst CE CESpread Buddhism ChinaSpread Buddhism China

A Chronology in EuropeA Chronology in Europe

• c. 2c. 2ndnd CE CE Christianity into Christianity into Mediterranean Mediterranean

• 284-305 CE284-305 CE Reign of DiocletianReign of Diocletian• 313-337 CE313-337 CE Reign of ConstantineReign of Constantine• 476 CE476 CE Collapse of Roman Collapse of Roman

Empire in the WestEmpire in the West

Religious ChronologyReligious Chronology

• 216-272 216-272 Life of ManiLife of Mani CECE• 313 CE313 CE Edict of Milan Edict of Milan

[Legalized Christianity][Legalized Christianity]

• 325 CE325 CE Council of NicaeaCouncil of Nicaea • 451 CE451 CE Council of Chalcedon Council of Chalcedon

[Both councils dealt [Both councils dealt with with

‘heresies’ about the nature of ‘heresies’ about the nature of Christ]Christ]

Important ConceptsImportant Concepts

• Silk RoadsSilk Roads– Trade routes spanning Eurasia & N. Trade routes spanning Eurasia & N.

AfricaAfrica•Land & sea routes inclusiveLand & sea routes inclusive•Named b/c high-quality silk Named b/c high-quality silk

– principal commodityprincipal commodity

• Monsoon system [Mausan- Arabic]Monsoon system [Mausan- Arabic]– Trade network in Indian OceanTrade network in Indian Ocean

•Sea routes b/w India & Arabia, AfricaSea routes b/w India & Arabia, Africa– Sailors used monsoon windsSailors used monsoon winds

Monsoon

Indian Ocean TradeIndian Ocean Trade

ConceptsConcepts• Germanic PeoplesGermanic Peoples

– Nomadic peoples of northern EuropeNomadic peoples of northern Europe– Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Vandals, Franks, Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Vandals, Franks,

Angles, Saxons & LombardsAngles, Saxons & Lombards•Migrated to borders of Roman Empire> 2Migrated to borders of Roman Empire> 2ndnd

C. CEC. CE• Invaded Rome & deposed Emperor> 476 Invaded Rome & deposed Emperor> 476

CECE– Settled:Settled:

• Italy, Gaul, Spain, Britain, N. AfricaItaly, Gaul, Spain, Britain, N. Africa

Germanic InvasionsGermanic Invasions

Religious ConceptsReligious Concepts• ManichaeismManichaeism

– Sought to syncretize Buddhism, Zoroastrianism & Sought to syncretize Buddhism, Zoroastrianism & ChristianityChristianity

• The NestoriansThe Nestorians– Christian sect> founded by Nestorius [Greek Christian sect> founded by Nestorius [Greek

Theologian]Theologian]– Emphasized the human, not divine, nature of Emphasized the human, not divine, nature of

ChristChrist

• DiocesesDioceses– Christian districts in all major cities, [presided] Christian districts in all major cities, [presided]

bishopsbishops

• PopePope– From Latin “papa” [father]From Latin “papa” [father]– Bishop of RomeBishop of Rome– Spiritual leader of Christian communities after fall Spiritual leader of Christian communities after fall

of western Roman Empireof western Roman Empire

Significant People• AttilaAttila

• Warrior King of Huns [Central Asia]Warrior King of Huns [Central Asia]• Attacked Germanic people> Borders Roman EmpireAttacked Germanic people> Borders Roman Empire

• AlaricAlaric• Leader VisigothsLeader Visigoths• sacked Rome 410 CEsacked Rome 410 CE

• ConstantineConstantine• Roman Emperor [Constantinople]Roman Emperor [Constantinople]• First Christian emperorFirst Christian emperor

– Edict of Milan > legitimatised Christianity in Roman EmpireEdict of Milan > legitimatised Christianity in Roman Empire

Significant People• St. Augustine

•Well educated philosopher

– Harmonized Christianity with Platonic philosophy•Facilitated acceptance of Christianity by

intellectuals

• Zhang Qian•Han emissary who returned after 12 years

– Facilitated opening of silk roads for trade

People

• St. Augustine • Zhang Qian

Economics of Silk Road• Trade Routes

– China to Rome• Over-land and sea routes

• Trade Goods– China: silk & spices traveled west– Central Asia: horses & jade traveled both

ways– Rome: glassware, jewelry, art works,

perfumes &

• Organization of Trade– Long-distance trade handled in stages

Silk Road Trade

Cultural Exchanges

• Buddhism– Spread from India: [Missionary Outreach]

• By merchants• To steppe lands & China along silk roads [1st C.

BCE]– S.E. Asia by 5th C. CE

• Hinduism– Spread from India:

• By merchants to S.E. Asia – Many were advisors to rulers

• Rulers [“rajas “ or kings]

• Sanskrit> written language

Cultural Exchanges• Christianity

– Spread in Mediterranean Basin & Mesopotamia•Missionary outreach:

– Paul of Tarsus & Gregory

•Converts in S.W. Asia & Iran until 6th C. CE•Nestorians:

– S.W. Asia– Emphasized human rather than divine nature of

Christ– Central Asia, India, China [7th C. CE]– Many Christians in China today are Nestorians

Cultural Exchanges• Manichaeism

– Zoroastrian Mani> founder

– Sought to syncretize Zoroastrianism, Christianity & Buddhism

• Persecuted by:– Romans and Sasanids

• Still survives in Central Asia

Manichaeism

Biological Exchanges• Epidemic diseases

• Traveled with trader & trade goods along silk roads

– Common epidemic diseases:•Small pox, measles, bubonic plague

• Impact:– Population:

• Roman Empire> dropped by ¼ from 1st to 10th Centuries CE

• Han China> dropped by ¼ 1st to 7th Centuries CE

– Economic:• Economies contracted weakening both empires• Small regional economies emerged

SmallpoxSmallpox

Spread of PlagueSpread of Plague

Epidemic Diseases