History of the Silk Road

Abstract

It is often mentioned that the "Silk Road" was a trade route between the East and the West. Conceptually, it represents the history of communication between China and the West: goods and merchants frequently travelled along this route. The meaning of the Silk Road and its formation process and scope of influence has been documented in different records, and had an impact on academic research in several countries: in the field of research on the history of China, the study of the Silk Road is a subject that many researchers have tackled and discussed. Early historical chronicles have been analyzed and discussed as well as documents and unearthed artefacts found along the Silk Road; these studies involve political, cultural, and economic aspects. Research has not been limited to China, but has also interested the countries which were along the Silk Road and those which were affected by the Silk Road culture. The Silk Road acted as a cultural bridge between East and West: it did not only promote commerce but also cultural exchanges. For example, Buddhism, as one of the religions of the Kushan kingdom, reached China thanks to this route.