Silk Road (research paper)

In ancient time people did not trade or communicate with people far away. Countries were isolated so they could not improve their idea or culture, because it was inconvenient for people to meet between a long distance. However at around 1BCE a new connection between the east and west shaped history because for the first time people could trade technology, products, language, culture, and religion from eastern country to western country. The Han Dynasty of ancient China                      wanted an alliance with some western countries that good at fighting in order to fight against the Huns, so the Han Dynasty sent Zhang Qian to communicate and exchange with Central Western areas. This led to the development of trade routes to the west, because China learned of western culture of both sides wished to exchange products. This connection was called the Silk Road. Silk Road is a network of trade and cultural transmission routes that were central to cultural interaction through regions of the Asian continent connecting the West and East by many ways such us linking traders, merchants, pilgrims, monks, soldiers, nomads, and urban dwellers from China and India to the Mediterranean Sea during various periods of time. It extended about 4,000 miles. The main traders during antiquity were the Chinese, Persians, Greeks, Syrians, Romans, Armenians, Indians, and Bactrians, and from the 5th to the 8th century the Sogdians. During the coming of age of Islam, Arab traders became prominent. So people traded more and more often on the Silk Road and more and more countries joined in the Silk Road. And the road became more and more important to all people. And then Trade began to circulate, because silks were really welcomed in central west because silks are useful and beautiful, it can use In many way and it is rare that only China have it. Another reason that the Silk Road would continue is that China also wanted the invention, goods such us spices to make food delicious and religion from other countries. Furthermore, the legacy of the Silk Road is that as many countries exchanged the productions and inventions, it also encouraged the exchange of the religions and culture.

One of the most important cities along the Silk Road where this exchange of religions and inventions occurred is now called Istanbul. The exchange happened because of its location, its religion and its products. Istanbul is the largest city and seaport of Turkey.  The city straddles the Bosporus that divides the continents of Europe and Asia.  The heart of old Istanbul the Sea of Marmara on the south, the Bosporus on the east, and a deep inlet called the Golden Horn on the north. One of the most important advantages is that that it is the only city in the world which spreads over two continents: it lies at a point where Asia and Europe are separated by a narrow strait - the Bosporus. It’s important also because the products it has. There are oil, wine, salt, fish, meat, vegetables, other alimentary products, timber and wax. Ceramics, linen, and woven cloth were also items of trade. Luxury items, such as silks, perfumes and spices were also important. There products attracted traders from Europe to Asia who met and exchanged.

Because it attracted traders from Europe, The Middle East and Asia, Constantinople also has some really complicated religions. In 1000 AD, the Byzantine Empire had become the sole heir of the Roman Empire. The important religion was Christianity. The Byzantine Empire closely followed the order of the Roman Empire, with the religious and secular authorities of both empires being closely tied together so Constantinople just follow the main religious as a Christian city. And Constantinople was finally conquered by the Muslim Turks in 1543. However both Islam and Christianity have dominated the city at different times in its history. The most famous building that relate to the mix of religion in this city is Hagias Sophia. Hagias Sophia is one of Istanbul's most famous landmarks. Its huge central dome measures 102 feet in diameter. In the A.D. 530's, Emperor Justinian I built the magnificent Orthodox Christian cathedral. Then the church was converted into a mosque in 1453. It mixed both Christian and Muslim architecture well. Thus, since Istanbul is situated between Europe and Asia, so it is influenced by two main different religions: Christianity and Islam and because of this 98% people in Istanbul is Muslims and there are still about 50 thousand Christians in Istanbul now. It shows the impact of the location.

Because of the long distance and the huge amount of countries that joined the Silk Road, there were many different products traded. One of the most valuable products was spices. People used to think that spices were traded as a flavoring for food. However, as well as being used in food, spices were included in the ingredients of oils, perfume, ointments, make-up, cosmetics and medicine. Some of the spices like sandal wood and aloe wood were also much in demand. The spices are so valuable is because many of the important spices grew only in the tropical East, from China south to Indonesia, southern Sri Lanka and India. In particular, they grew in the Moluccas or the Spice Islands. To reach the spice markets found across Asia and Europe, the spices had to be transported thousands of kilometers over the seas. So this leaded the continue of the Silk Road and it made the spice know by many people and countries.

Ginger is one of the most famous spices that traded at that time and they are still wide used today. This spice is the rhizome of the ginger plant. It is used in food and medicines. The ginger plant originally grew in Java, India and China but is now farmed elsewhere as well Turmeric is a plant of the ginger gamily. Native to India and Indonesia. Oil from its rhizomes was used in food and as a bright yellow dye.