For two thousand years the Silk Road was a thoroughfare for the transmission of merchandise, knowledge and religions. It started from Changan (the present Xian), crossed Western Asia and reached Africa and Europe, connecting ancient China to the Roman Empire in the Western world. In the late 1800s a German geologist Richthofen named the route Silk Road, reflecting its primary use at the time. With centuries of development the Silk Road, exemplifying exchanges between civilizations and natural sights, has attracted countless visitors.
Route of the Silk Road
The Silk Road traverses Eurasia, its many deserts, including the Gobi, and its snow-covered mountains. In ancient times, people had to travel with caravans and escorts to ensure their security. Fortunately there were oasis and towns providing temporary shelters.
Stretching about 7,000 km (4,350 miles) totally and 4,000 km (2,486 miles) in China, this intercontinental passageway started from the ancient capital of the Western Han Dynasty, along the Hexi Corridor in present Gansu Province, passed through Dunhuang, Yumenguan and Yangguan, and led the way to the 'western region' (near today's Xinjiang). The flourishing Loulan area had been the connection point for two branches. One way running north across Korla, Kucha, Aksu, Kashgar, Parmir, central Asia, and Iran, reached the eastern Roman Empire (Alexandria in Egypt) The other branch extending to the south along the north of the Kunlun Range, traversed Charkhlik, Cherchen, Hetian, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, to the Persian Gulf.
In its history the Silk Road route varied. With the alterations of geographical, political, and religious conditions, new passages were developed; some altered and some abandoned.
12/7/2008 4:40:00 PMColonel Edmund J. Burke , United States
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11/7/2008 7:30:00 AManonymouse
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12/7/2008 4:40:00 PMColonel Edmund J. Burke , United States
Kids, stay in school, or you'll end up as dumb as anonymouse.
11/7/2008 7:30:00 AManonymouse
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8/26/2008 9:25:00 AManonymouse
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