Nature and Characteristics of the Silk Road
Was the Silk Road a single, paved road, or something else entirely?
The Silk Road was not actually a road, not paved, and not even a single route. It was a name given to any route that led across China to Rome.
What specific goods did Rome possess that were desired by China?
Rome had gold and silver and precious gems.
What historical evidence led the Romans to believe in the existence of "the Silk People"?
The Romans discovered pieces of silk from some of the people they conquered.
Name at least three specific environmental dangers travelers faced along the Silk Road.
Travelers faced desolate white-hot sand dunes in the desert, forbidding mountains, brutal winds, and poisonous snakes. (Any three are acceptable)
How far did the Silk Road caravans extend within the Han Empire?
The Silk Road took caravans to the farthest extent of the Han Empire.
What was the primary reason the name "Silk Road" was given to these routes?
The primary reason was that China had silk, which was a highly desired commodity at the other end in Rome.
What unique products did China offer that were sought after by Rome?
China had silk, porcelain, spices and ivory.
What methods did the Romans initially employ to try and discover the source of silk?
The Romans tried to find the traders as they came into the towns and villages.
What geographical feature offered a relatively pleasant section of the Silk Road, and where was it located?
What specific architectural marvel was built along a section of the Silk Road, and for what purpose?
Sections of the Great Wall were built along the northern side of the Gansu Corridor to try and prevent bandits from the north from harming the trade.
how long was the journey across the Silk Road from China to Rome?
It was a 4000-mile trip.
Why did silk become so popular in Rome, despite its scarcity initially?
its desirability and initial scarcity.
Why were the traders unwilling or unable to provide the Romans with information about the silk's origin?
did not know who was making the silk." They only traded for it.
Besides environmental hazards, what human threats did travelers encounter on the Silk Road?
There were always bandits and pirates.
Describe how the Silk Road evolved over centuries beyond just a trade route.
Over the centuries, the Silk Road developed a civilization of its own, becoming lined with huge temples and booming cities where possible.
Beyond physical goods, what else was exchanged and traveled along the Silk Road?
Ideas also traveled along the Silk Road.
Were traders along the Silk Road knowledgeable about the ultimate source of the silk they traded?
NO, They did not know who was making the silk. They only traded for the silk."
What drastic measure did the Romans take in their frustration to find the source of silk?
In frustration, the Romans sent out parties of soldiers to follow the Silk Road and find the source, the people who were making the silk.
Explain the "relay" system employed by traders and why it was necessary
Even the traders did not make the whole trip. They worked in relays, meaning each trader would go a certain distance, exchange their goods for other goods, and hopefully return, with the next trader continuing the journey. This was necessary because it was "incredibly dangerous to travel along the Silk Road."
Despite its development, what aspects of traveling the Silk Road remained challenging?
It was never easy; there were still vast stretches of deserts and mountains to cross, with no city or water in sight.
Why was the Silk Road considered not to be a "single route"?
It was a name given to any route that led across China to Rome, implying multiple paths.
How did the exchange of goods between distant civilizations contribute to the economic development of both ends of the Silk Road?
Each had something the other wanted,
What was the primary reason most Roman soldiers sent to find the silk source failed to return or succeed?
Most of the soldiers never returned. Those who did reported they could not find a way through the desert and had to turn back.
List the three main routes of the Silk Road
How might the development of "huge temples and booming cities" along the Silk Road have impacted the experience of travelers?
The development of these features likely made it "far easier to travel the road" in those developed sections, providing resting points, resources, and safer havens compared to the undeveloped stretches.