The Silk Road in World History

Explore the fascinating history of the Silk Road, a network of ancient trade routes connecting East Asia with the Mediterranean world. Discover how the interdependence and conflicts between agricultural China and steppe nomads during the Han Dynasty led to the establishment of this complex exchange system. Learn about the goods, including silk, fragrances, spices, and gems, that were traded along this route, which survived the fall of empires and reached its golden age during the early middle age. Using supply and demand as the framework, this book examines the cultural forces underlying material transactions, illustrating the interconnections of the diverse participants in the transcontinental Silk Road exchange. Discover how the world was linked through economic and ideological forces long before the modern era.