Topics:Non-sedentary and semi-sedentary people

The movement of good and ideas

From 1-1000 CE

Questions:Are empires the only story?

To what extent were Eurasia’s empires in contact?

What role did nomads play?

Lecture 13: The “Silk Road”

Nomads &

Empires

RaidTradeInvade

The “Silk Road”

More than one road = Network of trade routes by land (with sea links)

More than just silk (going east) = Variety of luxury goods (going west and east)

Not road but people!Middlemen = key to success

Pamir Mountains Near Turfan

Luxury Trade

From East to West From West to East

India

Long distance and dangers of travelonly profitable for luxury items

Cotton“Silk” (from trees)

HorsesSilk (China)

Furs & carpets (Central Asia)Cotton, pearls, crystal, lapis lazuli (India)

Spices (India, Arabia, East Africa)

Spices (via Arabia)

Trade less expensive than conquest

Red coral, glass, wine, perfume (Rome)

Indigo, ivory, onyx, pepper, turquoise, lapis lazuli

Lacquer vessels (China)

Silk thread & textiles woven outside China

People of the Silk Road

Caravanserai (in today’s Kirghizstan)

Shelter, supply, and safeguard caravans CitiesNomadsStatesActively participate in trade

Indo-Iranian people

Speak a Persian language

Own writing system

Zoroastrian

Sogdians

Zoroastrian funeral

Control crucial segment of Silk RoadTravelling merchants

Sogdian = “lingua franca” of the Silk Road (4th-7th c. CE)

Bezeklik (near Turfan)

Caravan musicians

Cities of the Silk Road = Mixed communities

Local agriculturalists

Settled nomads

Merchant colonies

Immigrants

Multi-ethnicMulti-lingualMulti-religious

Dunhuang

Tocharian script

Arabic manuscript

Painted cave chapel at Dunhuang

Buddhism on the Silk RoadMahayana Buddhism

Later centuries: Islam spreads across Central Asia

SUTRA

Writing and the Spread of Religion

Xuan Zang (ca. 604-664 CE)

Dissemination

Study

Pilgrimage

Translation

ManicheesMani (200-271 CE), prophet

Quasi-Christian (but rejected Old Testament)

Dualist (Zoroastrian influence)

Complicated mythology of creationForces of Darkness (Evil) vanquish Light (Good)

Trap Light in matter (i.e., soul in body)

“Elect” = teachers, exemplary ascetics

Written teachings & communal ritual meal

Next Time

Nomads, Mahayana

Buddhism, & the end of the Han Dynasty

in China

Persecuted by Romans & Sasanians (Persians, 224-651)Repressed by Christians and Muslims

Manichaeism

Survives for centuries along Silk RoadPersists in China until 16th c. CE