The Silk Road Old And New

AY2016/2017 Semester 1

This course will examine the fascinating and complex history of the ancient Eurasian trade routes and the social, religious and political histories of the civilizations, which developed alongside these routes. Taking a thematic rather than chronological approach, the course is divided into two halves: in the first, we will look at the early history of the Silk Road including the trade in silk, musk and other luxury goods, the links between religion and material culture, the travelers, traders, monks and scholars who traversed these routes; the nomadic populations of Central and Inner Asia; religious co-existence and conflict as well as art and architectural productions. In the second half we will consider the strategic and economic importance of Central Asia and the expansion of Britain, Russia and China into these areas from the 18-21st Centuries. The rise of Islam after the fall of Communism and the continuing struggle of the great powers for mineral wealth forms another topic of discussion. Finally we will end with a consideration of the contemporary relations between the two emerging global and economic powerhouses: China and India.