Geography of the Silk Road
Name the river that played a crucial role in connecting trade routes in northern China.
The Yellow River.
What luxury item gave the Silk Road its name?
Silk
Who was the Chinese envoy credited with opening up the Silk Road during the Han dynasty?
Zhang Qian.
Which religion spread along the Silk Road from India to China?
Buddhism
Which empire’s fall marked the beginning of the end for the Silk Road's overland routes?
The Mongol Empire
Which desert was a major challenge for Silk Road travelers in Central Asia?
The Taklamakan Desert
What Chinese exports, besides silk, became significant during the Yuan dynasty?
Tea and porcelain
What empire established control over the Silk Road during the 1st to 3rd centuries CE?
The Kushan Empire
What Persian religion influenced Central Asia through the Silk Road?
Zoroastrianism
How did sea routes contribute to the decline of the Silk Road?
They overshadowed land routes due to the efficiency of transporting goods like porcelain
What major mountain ranges divided Eurasian societies into agricultural and nomadic zones?
Tianshan, Altai, and Caucasus mountains
What commodity (product, item) was widely sought after in Rome, creating high demand for Silk Road trade?
Silk
Which Mongol leader facilitated trade across the Silk Road by promoting security and infrastructure?
Khubilai Khan
Which Indian artistic style influenced Buddhist art in China through Silk Road exchanges?
Gandhara art
What climatic event caused famines that contributed to Silk Road decline during the 1330s?
Severe floods in China
Which port city was known for linking Chinese traders to Southeast Asia and beyond during the Yuan dynasty?
Quanzhou
Which metal was a common trade item from Central Asia?
Gold
Name the Chinese emperor who initiated trade relations with the West by dispatching Zhang Qian.
Emperor Wu of Han
What cultural tradition became prominent in Quanzhou due to diverse merchant settlements?
Multiculturalism, including Muslim and Hindu communities
What happened to the caravan towns in Central Asia as Silk Road trade declined?
They were abandoned and covered by desert sands
What geographical feature facilitated connections between agricultural societies and nomads?
The Eurasian steppe
What cultural product spread from China to Central Asia as part of the Silk Road exchange?
Paper
What event in 1368 marked the end of Mongol dominance over the Silk Road?
The rise of the Ming Dynasty
What specific type of Buddhist architecture was influenced by Silk Road exchanges?
Stupas
Which empire’s collapse in 1368 marked the final decline of the Silk Road?
The Yuan Empire