Banner Image: "Shirin Examines Khusraw’s Portrait", a Persian painting from around 1500.
Economic Prosperity
"...are amply stored with merchandise imported from distant and foreign countries. From Russia and Tartary come leathers and linens, from Cathay silk stuffs that are the finest in the whole world..with balas rubies and diamonds...also pearls, lastly rhubarb with many other spiceries...From India there are brought to Samarkand the lesser spiceries, which indeed are the most costly of the kind, such as nutmegs and cloves and mace with cinnamon..."
-Clavijo, ambassador to Emperor Tiemeur
The Exchange of Goods
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Although silk was one of more prominent items that traveled the Silk Road, a myriad of other goods were exchanged from civilization to civilization. This widespread exchange not only diversified different civilizations' economies, but it also served to enhance cultural and technological aspects as well.
"A whole bunch of big technological shocks occurred when Asian innovations - paper, gunpowder, the stirrup, the moldboard plow and so on - came to Europe via the Silk Road." Marco Polo and the Silk RoadMarco Polo's expedition to Asia and back illustrated how economic trade had resounding impacts on civilizations as a whole; he brought back items and technologies that Europe had ever seen before. Polo also recounted civilizations that many Europeans had never thought existed, bridging the barrier of information that had been constraining Europe.
"This is said [he wrote] to be the highest place in the world. And when he is in this high place, he finds a plain between two mountains, with a lake from which flows a very fine river. Here is the best pasturage in the world; for a lean beast grows fat here in ten days. Wild game of every sort abounds. There are great quantities of wild sheep of huge size. Their horns grow to as much as six palms in length and are never less than three or four...." The Han Dynasty ExpandsDuring the reign of emperor Wu-Di, the Han China saw many new reforms and expansions, especially economically. This exploration into new goods, and new economical advances led to a diverse and expansive exchange that continued for hundreds of years.
"Furthermore, they regularly make a profit by obtaining Chinese silk, unravelling it, and making fine hu (‘Western’) silk damasks. That is why this country trades with Anxi (Parthia) across the middle of the sea." |
A caravan carrying numerous goods through grasslands along the Silk Road. Culinary items such as spices, grapes, and wine were traded, as well as ornate works such as porcelain, chinaware, and glass. Music, poems, and instruments also found their way to numerous new societies, and other miscellaneous goods such as paper and incense were commonly exchanged as well.
Marco Polo brought back items and technologies that Europe had ever seen before, such as gunpowder, fireworks, exotic spices, and of course, silk. In addition, Polo's journey served to provide cultural information about Asia as well, as he kept detailed accounts of his travels in his book, The Travels of Marco Polo.
Emperor Wu-Di sought to expand and initiate relations with neighboring civilizations, sending emissaries to the far corners of Asia and the Middle East. What many of these emissaries brought back to Han China were foreign goods such as jade from the Kunlun Mountains and the "heavenly" horses raised by the mountainous nomads of Tian Shan.
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