BEGINNINGS OF THE SILK ROAD
Who is often called the Father of the Silk Road because his journeys helped open trade to the west?
Zhang Qian
What important city connected the Eastern Silk Road and the Western Silk Road?
Kashgar
What animals were commonly used in caravans on the Eastern Silk Road?
camels
What Chinese product was the most famous and valuable trade good on the Silk Road?
silk
What do we call the spread of ideas and knowledge from one culture to another?
cultural diffusion
What dynasty helped open the Silk Road by expanding west and pushing back enemies?
the Han dynasty
What city was an important Mediterranean port at the western end of the Silk Road?
Antioch
What desert did traders have to cross on the Eastern Silk Road?
the Taklimakan Desert
What Roman product was especially valued in China?
glassware
What religion spread from India to China along the Silk Road?
Buddhism
What northern enemies threatened China and were one reason Zhang Qian was sent west?
the Huns
What Chinese city did the Eastern Silk Road begin from?
Luoyang
Name one danger traders faced in the Taklimakan Desert.
bandits, sandstorms, or mirages
Why was silk a good product for long-distance trade?
It was light and valuable.
Give one example of cultural diffusion on the Silk Road besides religion. It should relate to knowledge.
China learned to make glass or the West learned to make silk.
What was one important result of Zhang Qian’s travels even though he did not form an alliance?
He helped open trade with western cultures.
What city was an important stop on the Western Silk Road near the Tigris River?
Ctesiphon
What mountain range on the Western Silk Road had thin air and dangerous passes?
the Pamir Mountains
Name two goods that traveled to China from other regions.
horses, gold, jade, furs, cotton, spices, pearls, ivory
What did some Chinese Buddhists bring back from India after traveling there?
sacred Buddhist texts
Explain why the Silk Road was able to begin during Han rule.
The Han expanded west and opened trade routes.
Why was Kashgar such an important trading center on the Silk Road?
Routes met there and goods were exchanged there.
Why did traders often form long caravans before crossing the desert?
to protect each other and survive the journey
Why did the Roman emperor Tiberius try to stop Romans from wearing silk?
The most likely reason.
Too much Roman gold was leaving the empire.
Explain how the Silk Road spread more than goods.
It spread ideas, beliefs, knowledge, and culture.
What is the distance in miles from Kashgar to Ctesiphon?
About 1,800 miles