丝绸之路 Silk Road: The Framework of Early Conections between Europe and China

Evolution of Connections over Evolution of Connections over EurasiaEurasia

欧洲欧洲 -- 亚洲联系网亚洲联系网 Silk was the first mayor commodity Silk was the first mayor commodity

transported across Asiatransported across Asia The name Silk road appeared only in The name Silk road appeared only in

1877 invented by the German 1877 invented by the German geographergeographer F Ferdinand von Richthofenerdinand von Richthofen

It was not one single road but a network It was not one single road but a network of paths and transport connectionsof paths and transport connections

It included step land and desert caravan It included step land and desert caravan routes as well as maritime routesroutes as well as maritime routes

The Idea of Silk Road is WiderThe Idea of Silk Road is Wider丝绸之路的观念更宽 丝绸之路的观念更宽

Besides Silk it Besides Silk it EEncncoompampasses:sses: Trade with other commodities besides silkTrade with other commodities besides silk Transfer of knowledge and technologiesTransfer of knowledge and technologies Spreading of domesticated plants and Spreading of domesticated plants and

cultivation techcultivation technniiquesques Exchange of culture and customs of livingExchange of culture and customs of living Spreading of various concepts of ideas Spreading of various concepts of ideas

and religious systemsand religious systems

Establishing the link between Roman Establishing the link between Roman and Han Empires - Roman city Liqian and Han Empires - Roman city Liqian

骊靬骊靬

Opening the Silk RoadOpening the Silk Road張騫 張騫 开丝绸之路开丝绸之路

Zhang Qian’s missionsZhang Qian’s missions to Central to Central AsiaAsia: : First 138-126 b.c. First 138-126 b.c.

Second 119-116 b.c.Second 119-116 b.c. Han colonization of the corridor to Han colonization of the corridor to

Central AsiaCentral Asia Extension of the Great Wall to Extension of the Great Wall to

Dunhuang and Yumen passDunhuang and Yumen pass Merchant caravans – around 10 per Merchant caravans – around 10 per

year were sent to Transoxaniayear were sent to Transoxania

Jiayuguan fortificationsJiayuguan fortifications 嘉峪关嘉峪关

玉门关 玉门关 Yumen pass: Entrance to Yumen pass: Entrance to ChinaChina

Effects of the open trade route

Silk was carried by Persian, Indian, and other merchants all the way to Rome

Well drilling was brought to Central Asia

Roman glass, wine, gold, and jade was imported in China

New plants, animals, instruments, and other products were brought to China

The route to India was opened

Budhism and Helenistic sculpture were introduced to China

Chinese pipa and Greek luteChinese pipa and Greek lute 琵琶与希腊的对象琵琶与希腊的对象

Roman glass excavated in ChinaRoman glass excavated in China中国土出的罗马玻璃中国土出的罗马玻璃

Buddha from Gandhara 1Buddha from Gandhara 1stst--22ndnd ACACand Aphrodite from Greece 2and Aphrodite from Greece 2ndnd-1-1stst BCBC

佛与希腊爱神佛与希腊爱神

First famous travellers between First famous travellers between China and IndiaChina and India 中国和印度的联系中国和印度的联系

Kumarajiva (344-423) came from India Kumarajiva (344-423) came from India to China to preach and translate to China to preach and translate Buddhists textsBuddhists texts

About 200 Chinese monks went to India About 200 Chinese monks went to India between 3between 3rdrd and 8 and 8thth century century

The most famous Chinese monk was The most famous Chinese monk was Xuan Zang, went to India in 629 and Xuan Zang, went to India in 629 and returned in 645returned in 645

Mahayana Buddhist texts are preserved Mahayana Buddhist texts are preserved only in Chinese translations only in Chinese translations

Big Goose Pagoda in Xi’an where Big Goose Pagoda in Xi’an where Buddhist texts were translatedBuddhist texts were translated 大雁塔大雁塔

Early Tang Dynasty (618-755)Early Tang Dynasty (618-755) 唐代 唐代 ReRe--established domination in Central Asiaestablished domination in Central Asia

The most open period in Chinese historyThe most open period in Chinese history Foreigners and foreign ideas are welcomeForeigners and foreign ideas are welcome

Several new religions came to ChinaSeveral new religions came to China

BudhismBudhism 佛教佛教 NestorianismNestorianism 景教景教 ZoroastrianismZoroastrianism 祆教祆教 ManichaeismManichaeism 摩尼教摩尼教 JudaismJudaism 犹太教犹太教 IslamIslam 伊斯兰教伊斯兰教

ManichaeismManichaeism 摩尼教摩尼教

Consequences of the battle at Talas 751Consequences of the battle at Talas 751

The only battle fought between Arab Abbasid The only battle fought between Arab Abbasid Caliphate and Chinese Empire: Arab victoryCaliphate and Chinese Empire: Arab victory

Conversion of Karluk Turks, which turned to Conversion of Karluk Turks, which turned to Arab side, triggered Arab side, triggered IIslamisation of other Turksslamisation of other Turks

Decline of Chinese influence in Central Asia Decline of Chinese influence in Central Asia Chinese prisoners of war were ordered to make Chinese prisoners of war were ordered to make

paper in Samarkandpaper in Samarkand

SamarkandSamarkand

BBy the year 794 AD papermaking spread y the year 794 AD papermaking spread to Baghdad, and then to Egypt, Morocco, to Baghdad, and then to Egypt, Morocco,

and Spainand Spain 造纸技术流传到欧洲造纸技术流传到欧洲

The Tanguts and the Xixia state

西夏西夏 (1032-1227)(1032-1227)

Tomb of Xixia EmperorTomb of Xixia Emperor 西夏王坟墓西夏王坟墓

The Xixia scriptThe Xixia script 西夏文字西夏文字

Hand grenade fabricated in Xixia in Hand grenade fabricated in Xixia in 11th century11th century 西夏手榴弹西夏手榴弹

The Mongol ConquestThe Mongol Conquest 蒙古人的侵蒙古人的侵略略 In 1227 In 1227 the Xixia state was annihilated was annihilated

and t the Tanguts exterminated In 1234 the Jin in north China was conquered In 1236 Russia was invaded and in 1241 Mongols

reached Poland, Hungary, and Adriatic sea. In 1258 Baghdad was conquered In 1260 Kublai Khan was proclaimed Emperor of

China, and from 1275 ruled over the whole China The attempts to invade Egypt, Japan, Vietnam,

and Java failed

Mongols were not just Mongols were not just brutal conquerorsbrutal conquerors

Emperor KublaiEmperor Kublai ((1260-1260-1294)1294)

Established peace Established peace across Asiaacross Asia

Opened travel routes Opened travel routes and promoted tradeand promoted trade

Religious toleranceReligious tolerance Enabled the flow of Enabled the flow of

knowledgeknowledge Gunpowder, compass, Gunpowder, compass,

and printing have and printing have eventually spread to the eventually spread to the westwest

Many travelMany travelllers went on route ers went on route across Asiaacross Asia 欧洲欧洲 -- 亚洲早期旅游者亚洲早期旅游者

Odoric de Pordenone in ChinaOdoric de Pordenone in China

Franciscan Giovanni da Montecorvino Franciscan Giovanni da Montecorvino Mission in China 1294-1328, first Mission in China 1294-1328, first archbishop in Pekingarchbishop in Peking

Marco Polo’s journey to ChinaMarco Polo’s journey to China1271-12911271-1291

Odoric de Pordenone, Pope’s Odoric de Pordenone, Pope’s messenger to China 1324-1331messenger to China 1324-1331

Raban Sauma an Uighur Nestorian, Raban Sauma an Uighur Nestorian, went from Peking to Baghdad and in went from Peking to Baghdad and in 1287 as Argun Khan’s messenger to 1287 as Argun Khan’s messenger to Constantinololis, Rome, and ParisConstantinololis, Rome, and Paris

Ming and Qing Dynasty: The Jesuits Ming and Qing Dynasty: The Jesuits became the most important intellectual became the most important intellectual

link between Europe and Chinalink between Europe and China明情耶稣会传教士明情耶稣会传教士

They brought new knowledge of astronomy, They brought new knowledge of astronomy, mathematics, and geography to Chinamathematics, and geography to China

They were serving as officials in the Imperial They were serving as officials in the Imperial Board of AstronomyBoard of Astronomy

They introduced better knowledge about They introduced better knowledge about China to EuropeChina to Europe

They transferred new ideas about secular They transferred new ideas about secular state and rationalism from China to Europestate and rationalism from China to Europe

They influenced European thinkers Leibnitz They influenced European thinkers Leibnitz and Voltaire in their quest for Enlightmentand Voltaire in their quest for Enlightment

Augustin Hallerstein Augustin Hallerstein 刘松龄刘松龄 , Famous Jesuit Scientist , Famous Jesuit Scientist and Cultural Link between Europe and China in the and Cultural Link between Europe and China in the period of Emperor Qianlong period of Emperor Qianlong came to China in 1739 came to China in 1739 and was president of Imperial Board of Astronomy in and was president of Imperial Board of Astronomy in Beijing from 1746 until his death in 1774Beijing from 1746 until his death in 1774

The old ObservatoryThe old Observatory

Armillary Sphere in Beijing ObservatoryArmillary Sphere in Beijing Observatory