Silk Route: World’s ancient Super Freight Forwarder Pathway
Welcome Readers and members of Kaushalya Panna eCommunity, in this blog post Silk Route: World’s ancient Super Freight Forwarder pathway of 2nd century B.C. to the 14th century A.D, we are going to explore the ancient exim path way either ancient super highway or ancient super sea way, its history and impacts on India as well as world trade. Let’s begun the game!
History of Silk Route
When we learn human history we see route for overland shipping Silk Road was longest-running commercial route in the past of world. The Silk Road is a network of routes that traders have been using for more than 1,500 years. When Ottoman Empire in 1453 CE discontinues the trade with the West, Han dynasty of China’s opened of trade in 130 BCE. A Chinese diplomat named Zhang Qian inaugurated the Silk Route during the Han dynasty. That is why he is known as the “Father of the Silk Road.” Zhang Qian journeyed from China to Central Asia during the first century BC.
Various routes of Silk Route
You should know it is neither an actual road nor a single route it is network or roads. The various routes are as follows:
Northern route: Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and China
Southern route – The Southern Route links China and Pakistan.
Southwestern route – Ancient cities ruins in Bangladesh like the ruins of Wari-
Bateshwar, Mahasthangarh, Bhitagarh, Bikrampur, Egarasindhur, and Sonargaon, served as major hubs for international trade hubs along this route.
Maritime Silk Route
The maritime Silk Route was also established by the Tang dynasty in addition to the land route.
A different route diverged to the northwest, heading past the Aral Sea, north of the Caspian Sea, and ultimately towards the Black Sea. The route is for South China Sea, Strait of Malacca, Indian Ocean, Gulf of Bengal, Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and the Red Sea are among the maritime routes that link China to Southeast Asia, the Indonesian archipelago, the Indian subcontinent, the Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, and Europe.
Various Countries who used Silk Route
Silk Route traveled through commercial cities like Samarkand and Kashgar before ending at Antioch or Constantinople (Istanbul) in Changan, Xian. Since the trading system was a chain with merchants sending goods back and forth from one trade center to another, caravans did not travel the entire distance. The network of routes that linked Asia, Europe, and Africa spanning over 6,500 kilometers, was used by traders and missionaries from Europe, Persia, China, Arab countries, Armenia, the Mongols, and Russia. At some point, the Route combined with almost all of the Ancient Trade Routes that crossed Asia and Europe, making the entire network the most popular trade route in the world. This Silk Road through India links China to the countries of Central Asia and the Mediterranean region of East Europe.
Most famous travelers of the Silk Route
Ferdinand von Richthofen
The popular route for trade between Europe and East Asia was referred to as the “silk road” for the first time in 1877 C.E. by German traveler and geographer Ferdinand von Richthofen.
Marco Polo
Marco Polo was among the most well-known Silk Road travelers (1254 C.E. –1324 C.E.) As Marco Polo traveled the Silk Road, he was able to see the splendor of Chinese civilization.
Fa Xian (Fa-Hien)
A Chinese monk by the name of Fa Xian (Fa-Hien) traveled to India more than 1,600 years ago in search of Buddhist texts. He used the land route known as the Silk Road for this journey, and he decided to take the maritime Silk Road to return to China.
Fa Hein (Faxian), Hiuen Tsang (Xuanxang)
Chinese explorers such as Fa Hein (Faxian), Hiuen Tsang (Xuanxang), and others used this route to reach India.
Silk Route in India
Kanishka opened the great silk route to the Indians. The Kushanas kings ruled over the Silk Road in Indian history. The Kushans were an important link in the old Silk Road.
As per UNESCO World Heritage Sites nearby, there are twelve major Silk Road locations in India. The ancient Silk Road encompassed seven major states: Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, Puducherry, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh (including modern-day Uttarakhand). These twelve main sites from these seven states of India are mentioned as follows:
1) The Ancient Vaishali Ruins in Bihar
2) The remnants of the Vikramshila Ancient University in Bhagalpur, Bihar
3) The Buddhist ruins, the site of the Buddha’s death at Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh
4) Sravasti Uttar Pradesh
5) Kaushambi Uttar Pradesh
6) Ahichhatra – Ramnagar, district Barreilly, tehsil Aonla, Uttar Pradesh
7) Buddhist stupa in Sanghol (Uncha Pind), Punjab Distt. Fatehgarh Sahib, Tehsil- Khamanu,
8) Arikamedu Union Territory of Pondicherry
9) Kaveripattinam at Pallavaneswaram, Melaiyur Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu – The excavated remnants of a Buddhist vihara and temple
10) An antiquated monastery and stupa in Harwan, Jammu & Kashmir, Kashmir
11) Burud Kot locally referred to as the “Nalla Sopara Stupa, district of Thane, the teshal of Vasai Maharashtra
12) Indraprastha Purana Qila Old Fort in Delhi
The Silk Route in Sikkim
At Sikkim in India Silk Route passes through Lhasa. The route traverses Chumbi Valley, Nathula Pass, and terminates at Tamralipta port located in Tamluk, West Bengal. The route continues from Tamralipta to seaside locations in the Far East, Java, Bali, and Sri Lanka.
Pass of Nathula La
Situated on the Old Silk Route, the Nathula La pass links China’s Tibet Autonomous Region with Sikkim. The Sino-Indian Trade has always relied heavily on this Pass.
Karakoram Pass
The Karakoram Pass, located in the Karakoram Range, connects China and India. Situated between Leh in Ladakh and Yarkand in the Tarim Basin, it is the highest pass on the historic caravan route.
Khyber Pass
Khyber Pass is in between India and Pakistan. Gartang Gali in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand was once a stop on the Silk Road, an ancient trade route. Genghis Khan and his successors utilized Gartang Gali to launch their invasion of India and establish their dominance over the country.
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Which Products had traded on the Silk Route?
Silk
China exported silk, which is composed of natural protein fiber, to Italy. Fibrin is the primary component of silk, a protein secreted by some insect larvae in order to form cocoons. During the Gupta era (AD 400–600), a Buddhist monk is credited with introducing the Chinese methods of silk-reeling to India. Since the reeling method is exclusive to the Bombyx mori cocoon, it is assumed that he carried the eggs of that species.
Heavenly Horses
The Dayuan countries, with their tall and strong horses, also drew the attention of the Chinese and that increase trade of Horses.
Gunpowder
China’s gunpowder altered the fundamental essence of warfare in Europe and other regions.
Various commodities, from gold to salt
Due to transportation was scarce, frequently hazardous, and over long distances, commodities that could be exchanged were luxury goods like spices, silk, tea, porcelain, etc.
India imported animals and birds like peacocks, as well as roses, oranges, pears, spices, tea, ivory, cotton, and wool, as well as precious metals and stones from China.
Grapes and wine
Grapes and wine making were brought to the East. In addition, China exporting rice, camel hair, coffee beans, figs, raisins, and Turkish yarn from Iran. Many products from across the world, including glass bottles from Egypt, frankincense, aloes, and myrrh from Somalia, dates, saffron powder, and pistachio nuts, were brought to China via the Silk Road. The caravans returned with bolts of silk brocade, porcelain, and lacquer-ware.
Importance of Silk Route
The greatest contribution of the Silk Road to world history was the interchange of ideas, art, and science between Asia, Europe, and Africa rather than just a few commodities. It was the first information superhighway in history.
Cultural diffusion on Silk Route
Silk Road creates a cultural bridge particularly in the field of religion in addition to the trade of commodities connecting the West and East over several centuries. Because it made it easier for ideas, religions, and artistic styles to be shared, the Silk Road was crucial to the global exchange of culture. Through trade networks, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, Manichaeism, and Islam all spread throughout Eurasia.
Ladakh is a fantastic illustration of this exchange of cultures. On the Silk Route connecting India and Central Asia, the Leh Ladakh region served as a significant crossroads. Greek art originated in Europe and spread to India, while Buddhism originated in India and traveled the world via the Silk Road.
Impact of Silk Route on India that is transmission of Buddhism
One of the religions practiced in the Kushan kingdom is Buddhism. Along the Silk Road, Buddhism started to spread around the first century BC. Monks lived along the way as the message spread and was embraced by entire communities.
There are a lot of ruins in the region of India that was once covered by the Silk Road. The center of many of these monasteries was made up of exquisitely adorned Buddhist caves. There are up to a thousand caves in one group in some places. Beautiful wall paintings and Buddha statues could be found in many of these caves. These features were frequently funded by travelers who thanked themselves for making it this far or prayed for protection on their next journey. Via networks of land and sea routes connecting China, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and India, Buddhism expanded throughout Asia.
Europe -Roman relationships
China and Rome never had direct contact because of geography and distance. India, however, continued to have close ties with both. There were numerous trade connections between China and Rome, as well as a strong cultural bond during the Buddhist Golden Period. India was able to comprehend both countries’ consumer preferences as a result. India used to be one of the richest countries in the world. However, things have since changed now.
After absorbing Indian and Chinese medical and mathematical knowledge, the Arabs developed new sciences such as algebra, which eventually found acceptance in Europe.
Along the Silk Road, new cities and empires flourished, and global dominance changed hands. Along this path, the course of world history was altered, and people began exchanging ideas on a never-before-seen scale.
Bandits
On the route along this road, numerous traders were killed by bandits, who were prevalent.
Diseases
Disease also traversed the Silk Road. The Black Death most likely originated in Asia and traveled the Silk Road before wreaking havoc on Europe in the late 1340s CE.
Decline of Silk Route
The Silk Road began to decline when the great political powers along it split economically and culturally following the fall of the Mongol Empire. Due to dissolution of the Mongol Empire, their political, cultural, and economic cohesion of the Silk Road was decline.
Is the Silk Route still in use?
A paved highway that connects Pakistan and China’s Uyghur Autonomous Region with Xinjiang is one of the surviving portions of the Silk Road.
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Summary and Future of Silk Route
To summarize, China’s booming Asian trade and the growing need of connection between Asia and Europe at the start of the twenty-first century. These connections are ambitious project of China became known by the following names: OBOR (One Belt One Road;a term used from 2014 to 2017); BRI (Belt and Road Initiative; a term used since 2017); Trans Asian Railway; Northern East-West Corridor; Eurasian Landbridge; New Silk Road. “One Belt, One Road” refers to the two routes that make up the New Silk Road initiatives. The land route that connects central Asia, Russia, and Europe is known as the “Silk Road Economic Belt. The sea route, which passes through the Indian and western Pacific oceans, is known by the peculiar moniker “the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.”
