1. Cross-cultural Exchanges on the Silk Roads
Chapter 12
Cross-cultural Exchanges on the Silk Roads

2. Long-Distance Travel in the Ancient World
Lack of police enforcement outside of established settlements
Changed in classical period
Improvement of infrastructure
Development of empires

3. Trade Networks Develop
Dramatic increase in trade due to Greek colonization
Maintenance of roads, bridges
Discovery of monsoon wind patterns
Increased tariff revenues used to maintain open routes
Luxury goods greatest profit for expensive overland transport

4. Trade in the Hellenistic World
Bactria/India
Spices, pepper, cosmetics, gems, pearls
Persia, Egypt
Grain
Mediterranean
Wine, oil, jewelry, art
Development of professional merchant class

5. The Silk Roads Named for principal commodity from China
Dependent on imperial stability
Overland trade routes from China to Roman Empire
Sea Lanes and Maritime trade as well
The Silk Roads 200 BCE – 30 CE

6. Organization of Long-Distance Trade
Divided into small segments
Tariffs and tolls finance local supervision
Tax income incentives to maintain safety, maintenance of passage

7. Buddhism and Hinduism in SE Asia
Sea lanes in Indian Ocean
1st c. CE clear Indian influence in SE Asia
Rulers called “rajas”
Sanskrit used for written communication
Buddhism, Hinduism increasingly popular faiths

8. Cultural Trade: Buddhism and Hinduism
Merchants carry religious ideas along silk routes
India through central Asia to east Asia
Cosmopolitan centers promote development of monasteries to shelter traveling merchants
Buddhism becomes dominant faith of silk roads, 200 BCE-700 CE

9. Christianity in Mediterranean Basin
Gregory the Wonderworker, central Anatolia 3rd c. CE
Christianity spreads through Middle East, North Africa, Europe
Sizeable communities as far east as India
Judaism, Zoroastrianism also practiced

10. Syncretic Christianity in SW Asia
Influence of ascetic practices from India
Desert-dwelling hermits, monastic societies
After 5th c. CE, followed Nestorius
Emphasized human nature of Jesus

11. Spread of Manichaeism Mani a devout Zoroastrian (216-272 CE)
Viewed himself a prophet for all humanity
Influenced by Christianity and Buddhism
Dualist
good vs. evil
light vs. dark
spirit vs. matter

12. Manichaean Society Devout: “the Elect” Ascetic lifestyle
Celibacy, vegetarianism
Life of prayer and fasting
Laity: “the Hearers”
Material supporters of “the Elect”

13. Decline of Manichaeism
Spread through silk routes to major cities in Roman Empire
Zoroastrian opposition provokes Sassanid persecution
Mani arrested, dies in captivity
Romans, fearing Persian influence, also persecute

14. The Spread of Epidemic Disease
Role of trade routes in spread of pathogens
Limited data, but trends in demographics reasonably clear
Smallpox, measles, bubonic plague
Effect: Economic slowdown, move to regional self- sufficiency

15. Epidemics in the Han and Roman Empires