The Silk Road
The route below became known as the Silk Road. It wasn't just one road but was made up of many connecting roads through many different countries. From the second century BC to the end of the fourteenth century AD the Silk Road was the route that travellers took to get from East to West and visa versa. Traders from the West and the East travelled this road to sell their wares. The journey was long and treacherous but for those brave enough to attempt the journey there was wealth and adventure to be found.
Traders travelled from China with silk, jade, ceramics and spices. They sold these and returned to China with gold, gems, ivory, perfume and glass. The silk, jade and spices were brought to Europe. Ideas were also shared. Buddhism spread to China from India. The trade on the silk road declined when sea routes opened up.
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Silk trading was an incredibly lucrative business so it was forbidden to take silk worms out of the China. There are different stories told about how the first silk worms were smuggled out of the country. This is one of the stories.
Once upon a time there was a Chinese princess who was travelling far from her home to marry a king in another country. She decided to bring the king the most precious gift she could think of. She had long flowing black hair which was piled up on top of her head. She hid silk worms cocoons in her hair and mulberry seeds in her purse. |
Once she arrived at the palace she let down her hair and there to the delight of her new husband were the silk worm cocoons. She planted the seeds of the mulberry tree in her garden. From then on they were able to provide silk to their tailors and dress makers who were able to make fine clothes for them to wear.
Marco Polo
Marco Polo was Venetian. He travelled along the silk road with his father and uncle. It took them almost three years to reach China. The great Mongolian leader, Kublai Khan, was so impressed with Marco that he gave him permission to travel throughout his dominion. Marco saw many amazing things on his travels. He saw coal and paper money for the first time. The book “Il Milione” was about his travels.
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Not everyone in Europe was impressed with his book. They did not believe his stories. They did not believe that another culture could be more advanced than their own. However, it created interest for others in Asia. More merchants began trading with Asia. Paper currency, coal and a postal system were brought to Europe. Gunpowder was also brought to Europe.