History - Lesson 10

Question 1

What are some main points about silk?

Answer 1

• Chinese learnt how to make silk and kept it a secret
• People placed high value on silk and used it for:
  - luxury clothing and scrolls
  - To pay taxes
  - To pay for services
  - To reward achievements
• Merchants traded silk within China and with other countries

Question 2

What are some main points about the Silk Road?

Answer 2

• Helped make China the leading silk producer in the world
• Using this route, Chinese traders sold silk to Babylon, Greece, India and Rome, gaining China links with western Asia and Europe.
• Traders from other lands used the same route to sell their local products (such as walnuts, cucumbers, hemp plants and grape vines) to the Chinese
• Came into existence during the Han dynasty
• Based on the route taken by Zhang Qian
  - Wanted to find allies who would help defeat their enemy
  - Provided a means of travel through lands known for their difficult terrain and temperatures from -20 degrees in the winter and 50 degrees in the summer
• Introduction of Buddhism came from the Silk Road
  - Created cultural links between China, India, and the Middle East
• Chinese merchants gained great wealth from their trade along the Silk Road, as a result, improved their status within Chinese society