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Whose Journey Opened the Silk Road to the West?
historyexploration
Quick Answer
Zhang Qian's diplomatic missions (138–126 BC) established the Silk Road trade routes.
The Full Story
Chinese diplomat Zhang Qian, sent by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty in 138 BC, made two expeditions to Central Asia that opened up the network of trade routes later known as the Silk Road. His first journey lasted 13 years (he was captured and held by the Xiongnu for a decade). Zhang Qian's reports about the peoples, resources, and geography of Central Asia led to diplomatic and trade contacts between China and the Greco-Roman world. The routes carried silk, spices, precious metals, and ideas across Eurasia for over 1,500 years.
Key Facts
1.The term "Silk Road" was coined by German geographer Ferdinand von Richthofen in 1877.
2.Silk was so valuable in Rome that it was traded weight-for-weight with gold.
3.The routes facilitated the spread of Buddhism from India to China.
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Suggested video title for this topic:
"Zhang Qian — The Man Who Opened the Silk Road"