Xi'an China, Silk Road

What images come to mind when you hear the phrase "Silk Road"? For me, the Silk Road conjures images of camels laden with goods, crossing endless deserts beneath vast, starry skies. Brave travellers embarked on long journeys to exchange knowledge and ideas, while merchants embraced the dangers, hoping to make their fortunes through trade. Yet, it's fascinating to think that most merchants didn't traverse the entire route from East to West. Instead, goods were traded in stages, passing through many hands, each merchant specialising in a particular segment of the journey. In contrast, explorers like Marco Polo ventured the full length of the Silk Road, driven by curiousity and diplomatic missions, and his accounts brought these new worlds into focus.

The Silk Road was a vast network of paths stretching from China to the Mediterranean and extending south to India. Goods, such as spices, gold, and silk, were traded along the way. But more than that, it was a gateway to stories, cultures, religions and discoveries. Technological advancements and innovations, such as papermaking, printing, and astronomy, spread to new lands along these routes.

Spanning nearly 1,500 years from its beginnings in 130 BCE to its decline in the 16th century, the Silk Road lacked a unified name until the German geographer Ferdinand von Richthofen coined the term in the 19th century. While the name suggests a single route, it refers to a complex web of northern and southern paths, each serving different regions and purposes.

Starting in the ancient city of Chang'an (modern-day Xi'an), this journey will traverse the northern edge of the Taklamakan Desert, crossing rugged mountains, fertile lands, and oases. Along the way, I'll pass through eight modern-day countries that didn't exist in the heyday of the Silk Road, as borders and nations have changed over time. Each mile will bring me closer to my final destination: the ancient city of Antioch (modern-day Antakya), Turkey, near the sun-soaked coast of the Mediterranean.

As the eastern terminus of the Silk Road, Chang'an (modern-day Xi'an) was the imperial capital during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BCE - 9 CE). Several key trade routes passed through the city, making it a natural starting point for the Silk Road. Its strategic location near the Wei River and surrounded by fertile plains provided easy access to Central Asia and efficient transportation of goods.

While the Silk Road is often thought to have begun with the trading of silk, it was actually China's need for hardy horses for military purposes that set it in motion. In search of strong and reliable cavalry horses, the Han Dynasty looked westward to Central Asia, where the famed "Heavenly Horses" were bred. In 130 BCE, Emperor Han Wudi sent the diplomat Zhang Qian on a mission to secure these horses and establish diplomatic ties with Central Asian kingdoms. His journey is considered the starting point of the Silk Road, connecting the East and West. As a key figure in its early development, Zhang Qian's fascinating travels opened the door to centuries of trade and cultural exchange—a story I'll explore further next.

The Silk Road is 3000 miles long!  I'll be doing this with a team, for sure, yet so excited to learn more.  A few team members started this before Christmas, but I'm waiting until I finish the Harry Potter challenge series.