The Silk Road in history was an essential trading route between the East and the West, first opened up in the Western Han Dynasty (202BC–8AD). This ancient road spanned over 6,000 kilometers from Xi’an in China to the Mediterranean Sea and was so named because silk products were the most sought-after commodities exchanged along the route. The Silk Road enjoys a splendid history of over 2,200 years and still plays a vital role in strengthening cultural and economic ties between China and the Western world.
Learn more basic information on 8 Fascinating Silk Road Facts You Didn’t Know
Why was the Silk Road an Important Part of Chinese History?
A variety of Chinese commodities, such as porcelains, tea, silk, spice, and crops, were traded to the world, which contributed a lot to the economic development of China and finally made China a great power in the world at the time. Meanwhile, rare products, advance technology, and knowledge, as well as foreign cultures and religions were introduced into the Central Plains, which greatly promoted the economic and cultural prosperity of ancient China.
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Western Han Dynasty (202BC–8AD) – The Opening of Silk Road
Early before the establishment of the Qin Dynasty (221-207BC), exchanges and trades between eastern and western regions in China already existed, but on small scales. Until 139 BC, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty (156-87BC) sent Zhang Qian (164-114BC) as an envoy to establish relationships with the Western Regions against their common enemy the Huns.
After several victories, the Han court finally took over Hexi Corridor – a vital communication line between Central Plains and Western Regions – and came to rule the current Xinjiang area. Since then, more frequent contacts and trades took place among different cities and countries along the route, marking the beginning of the China Silk Road history. It was during this period that Buddhism was firstly introduced into China along the route.
Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) – Extension of Silk Road to Europe
In 73AD, a renowned official named Ban Chao (32-102) went westward on a diplomatic mission with a delegation of 36 men. He managed to free tribes and states in Western Regions from the control of the Huns and convinced them to pay allegiance to the Han court. The next year, Ban Chao sent envoys to build connections with the Rome Empire. It was the first time in history that the Silk Road extended to Europe.
Southern and Northern Dynasties (420-589) – Facilitate the Development of Buddhism in China
Southern and Northern Dynasties is another important period of the Silk Road history. The Silk Road had been developed and expanded to enhance exchange in both economy and production techniques during this period. It was in this time that China had frequent contacts with Persia. A lot of Persian diplomatic missions were sent to Central Plains, together with the glass production process.
Meanwhile, the Buddhist culture also got greatly enriched in China as nearly 200 Mahayana sutras and precious Buddhist relics were brought into Luoyang (the capital of China at the time) along the Silk Road.
Tang Dynasty (618-907) – The Golden Age of Silk Road
Tang Dynasty was an essential period in the history of the Silk Road, as the development of this route moved to a higher level. Numerous countries and states in the West Regions constructed extensions to connect the Silk Road and the route even reached Arab Empire and Eastern Roman Empire in Europe. Major cities in western China, such as Dunhuang, Yangguan and Yumen, became bustling trading centers, with numerous caravans coming in an endless stream. Besides, Chinese merchants and envoys can also go on a voyage to reach the Central Asia and Europe from coastal cities, including Guangzhou, Shanghai and Quanzhou.
Apart from commodity trading, both China and the West benefited a lot from the increased exchange of ideas, knowledge and culture. The remarkable development of Buddhism in the Tang Dynasty was the best example, thanks to the great contributions made by eminent monks, Xuan Zang and Yi Jing. Both trekked for years along the Silk Road to the Central Asia and India, and managed to carry hundreds of Buddhist scriptures back to China.
Song and Yuan Dynasties (960-1368) – The Busiest Period of Silk Road
The weak national power made the Song court no longer in charge of the Hexi Corridor, leading to the decline of the overland Silk Road. But the marine route saw a great rise in this period. After the Mongolian Empire overthrew the rule of the Song court and established the Yuan Dynasty, the territory experienced a quick and mass extension, and a lot of courier stations were set up. Since then, the overland route has flourished again and entered the most thriving period in the Silk Road history.
At that time, the capital city Dadu (today’s Beijing) was crowded with merchants and caravans from Europe as well as Central and Western Asia. Descriptions of the prosperous scenes in Dadu can be found in a lot of foreign historical records. Marco Polo (1254-1324) depicted the booming scenery in his book and mentioned that all precious, rare things in the world can be found in Dadu and the number of items sold there was more than anywhere else in the world.
Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) – Maritime Route Reached Its Peak
The maritime Silk Road was in its heyday in history during this period, with Guangzhou, Quanzhou and Ningbo as the major ports. It was in this time that Zheng He, leading the most powerful fleet in the world, made 7 voyages to the Western Seas and visited more than 30 countries in South Asia and East Africa. This grand feat brought a significant development to overseas trade and introduced a great many new products, raw materials and techniques into China.
Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) – The Decline of Silk Road
This was the last stage in the history of the ancient Silk Road. The Qing court adopted an isolation policy and cut off all the ties with the world. Both overland and maritime Silk Road went into an overall decline.
Today (From 2013) – The New Beginning of the Silk Road
In recent years, the Chinese government has come up with the Belt and Road Initiative, a modern-day revival of the Silk Road that aims to promote global trade and cultural exchange, and tourism development. A great number of international rail networks and sea routes have been opened up to make countries and regions along the way more closely connected with each other. Today, the glorious Silk Road has entered upon a new period of history and restored its vitality.
Travel along the Silk Road
Nowadays, the Silk Road, with a history of over 2,200 years, has become a great traveling route traversing some of the most popular tourist destinations in China, such as Xi’an, Dunhuang, Zhangye, Qinghai, and Xinjiang, where visitors can marvel at a vast number of historical relics and magnificent natural sights, from Terracotta Warriors to Mogao Caves, from dazzling Danxia landforms to picturesque Qinghai Lake…
Besides, regions such as Qinghai and Xinjiang are mainly inhabited by ethnic minorities like Tibet and Uyghur. Here, visitors will take an immersive cultural exploration to appreciate characteristic architectures, enjoy folk art performances, feel a distinctive religious atmosphere…
Read for more travel tips on:
- How to Plan a Silk Road Trip
- Top Attractions along the Silk Road
- Top 10 Foods You Must Try When Traveling along the Silk Road
- Top 6 Reasons to Visit the Silk Road
