Marco Polo and the Silk Road

What do you know about it?

Turn and talk

Part 1:

Facts about Marco Polo

Marco Polo was born in Italy.

Why do you think people didn't believe him?

Part Two

Silk Road

In your notes:

Chan Ch'ien, 1st

Chinese Traveler

responsible for creation

of the Silk Road.

Well, not really...this is actually

one of their videos, dissected.

MARCO POLO AND THE SILK ROAD

The Silk Road

The bleak desert scapes extend beyond the horizon, calling to mind the hardships and determination of those who traveled the Silk Road.

The route grew with the rise of the Roman Empire because the Chinese initially gave silk to the Roman-Asian governments as gifts.

The Silk Road

Chan Ch'ien, the first known Chinese traveler to make contact with the Central Asian tribes came up with the idea to expand the silk trade to include these tribes and forge alliances with these Central Asian nomads.

Because of this idea, the Silk Road was born.

The Silk Road

The 7,000 mile route spanned China, Central Asia, Northern India, and the Parthian and Roman Empires.

It connected the Yellow River Valley to the Mediterranean Sea and passed through places such as Chinese cities Kansu and Sinkiang and present-day countries Iran, Iraq and Syria.

In your notes: The Silk Road was a 7,000 mile route!

Silk was the

first item traded

along the route

DID YOU KNOW?

The Silk Road: Linking Europe and Asia Through Trade

The Silk Road is the most well-known trading route of ancient Chinese civilization.

Trade in silk grew under the Han Dynasty ( 202 BC - AD 220) in the first and second centuries AD.

Chinese rulers of successful dynasties kept secret the mystery of silk production. Why do you think they would do this?

Social Consequences of the Silk Road

Globalization has deep historical roots

Modern globalization came from international:

Increased the number of foreign merchants present in China under the Han Dynasty exposing the Chinese people to different cultures and religions.

Historical Globalization and Imperialism

- trading

- networks

- mercantilism

Buddhism spread from

India to China due in part to trade along the Silk Route.

The Decline of the Silk Road

The Chinese traded silk for medicines, perfumes, and slaves in addition to precious stones.

As overland trade became increasingly dangerous, and overseas trade became more popular, trade along the Silk Road declined.

While the Chinese did maintain a silk-fur trade with the Russians north of the original Silk Route, by the end of the fourteenth century, trade and travel along the road had decreased.

ITALY...the boot,

remember?

For your notes-