-it linked people from the east and west for more than 1000 years

The Silk Road opened under the Han Dynasty Zhang Qian- was sent by the emperor Han to explore the Silk Road -he was sent with 100 men to form alliances w/western people against the Huns -people were intimidated by the army and many of the men that were with him got killed -Zhang Qian himself was taken prisoner twice by the Huns but somehow escaped -10 years later her returned to China and spread the word about what he saw in Persia, Syria, India and Rome. -Later he went the second time and discovered bigger horse and grapes, and established trade relationships with neighboring areas.

Silk -Only Chinese know how to make it -under Han revealing the secret was punishable by death -Romans had glassware that the Chinese valued and wanted and that is what silk was traded for. -Interesting fact: Bactrain camels have double eye lids and nostrils that close! Perfect for desert traveling. -perfect trading because it is easy to carry, light and valuable -besides silk there was fine dishware (China), decorative boxes, ornaments and cast iron things. Chinese valued horses from central Asia, jada, firs and gold -asbestos was also prized for it was used for fire proofing cloth -coral-it supposedly changed color when placed on sick person

Kashgar- central trading point where the eastern and western roads met -going west of Kashgar- people rode yaks, had to pass dangerous mountain passes, high elevation, lack of oxygen, dizziness, headache, ringing, slipping over edges -Going east of kashgar –people rode camels, ran into bandits, deserts, mirages, sand storms -the romans traded so much of their gold for silk that the Roman emperor forbid men to wear silk because it might make them soft and weak.