|
Saturday, 21 November 2009 |
 Silk Road was one of the results of expeditions Zhang Qian (张 骞). During the reign of the Han Dynasty, China established many contacts with the lands outside the empire. For 138 years the emperor Wudi (武帝) sent Zhang Qian with a group of 100 people on an expedition towards the western regions.
Zhang Qian was captured by the Huns, shortly after leaving the Empire. After 12 years, escaped from captivity, together with the sole surviving companion and returned to Chang'an (长安, now Xi'an). The emperor sent him to yet another diplomatic trip, this time with his retinue of 300 men and a huge amount of gifts in the thousands of head of cattle. The expedition resulted in the establishment of contacts with many tribes and states in the Western Regions and the establishment of the Western Command of the fringes under the control of the central government. Silk Road Establishment of the Silk Route was one of the consequences of trips Zhang Qian. Trail began in Chang'an - the capital of the Han Dynasty (modern Xi'an), and ended in the eastern Mediterranean. oute traveled by a number of wild populations. Due to the variability of the weather, a trip to China and could take up to three years.
Determined after all passengers on swollen rivers, Blowing Snow, frost and heat. The most dangerous for the success of the expedition was the lack of water. Periodically, the river can appear almost overnight, dry, or change from year to year trough. In addition, monotonous desert landscape and changed constantly, and only a costly and costly assistance allowed to penetrate the human habitat on another route. In general, traders clung to branches of the trail between the mountains of Tian Shan and Shan Kunhun. Proximity of the mountains has provided better access to water, a larger number of human settlements and the ability to acquire food. In addition to the risks supplied by nature, of course, merchants robbers, the local bureaucracy, false and incompetent guides. Ancient silk trail guides (from the reign of the Tang Dynasty) report many strange advice today, providing the specificity of the journey. And so it is recommended that the merchant traveled with the family - so that in case of death goods, the property is not lost. Some sections of the route are protected by the Mongol and the gendarmerie were also well described. Merchant sowing could see the distances between stops, local exchange rates, changes in the transport of more practical for a given distance .Due to difficulties in transportation, as described above, merchants the most valuable commodity caravans from China, large quantities of silk to India, Persia and Greece, while imported walnuts, grapes and carrots.
|
