Central Asia
Located in modern Uzbekistan, this ancient oasis city served as a key crossroads of Silk Road trade and scholarship
What is Samarkand?
In the 19th century, this was the name given to the rivalry between Great Britain and Russia in the late nineteenth century
What is the Great Game?
Through Zhang Qian's diplomatic missions, peoples of this region learned about silk and developed a craving for it.
What is Central Asia?
This luxury signature Chinese fabric was carried through Inner Asia to introduce to Central Asian peoples following the missions of Zhang Qian
What is silk?
Known as the "Heavenly Horses," these swift Central Asian steeds were eagerly sought by Chinese emperors for military superiority.
What are the Fergana horses?
This group of people moved into the Inner Mongolian steppes and farmed land more suitable for a pastoral economy, contributing to increased desertification in the region
Who are Chinese peasants?
This specific field has Chinese texts focusing on it which was translated by Persians, demonstrating the cross-cultural transfer of practical knowledge
What is agriculture?
This region served as the main base for Xiongnu confederation before its territory stretched into northern Xinjiang.
What is Mongolia?
Dominating Central Asian trade routes for centuries, these Eastern Iranian merchants acted as the primary commercial middlemen of the Silk Road.
What are Sogdians?
Chinese's expansion into this region led to peasants farming land more suited to a pastoral economy, contributing to increased desertification of its steppes.
What is Inner Mongolia?
This religion has centers focusing on it in oasis towns along the Silk Roads, specifically Dunhuang and Khotan
What is Buddhism?
This crop and chemical runoff from its fields contaminated nearby water bodies and aquifers, leading to severe health issues for local populations in Inner Asia.
What is cotton?