The silk road in world history books

The silk road was the contemporary name for a complex of ancient trade routes linking east asia with central asia, south asia, and the mediterranean world. The ancient trade routes that made up the silk road were some of the great conduits of cultural and material exchange in world history. Christopher beckwith describes the rise and fall of the great central eurasian empires, including those of the scythians, attila the hun, the turks and tibetans, and genghis khan. For example, how does columbus come to bear on the silk road. In greek myth two eagles fly from opposite poles of the world until they meet. View the new experience and read this book on fulcrum. As the silk road was not a single thoroughfare from east to west, the term silk routes has become increasingly favored by historians, though silk road is the more common and recognized name. For centuries, fame and fortune were to be found in the west in. The journey begins from changan, current xian that was more than 1,000 years a capital in china, and the melting pot of. The future politicoeconomic influences of the old silk road lands is brought into sharp focus and this book is all the more useful because of this. A new history of the world 1st edition, kindle edition.

Best books to read about the silk road a list for senior travellers. In this intriguing book, xinru liu reveals both why and how this longdistance trade in luxury goods emerged in the late third century bce, following its story through to the mongol conquest. Robertss westerncentric penguin history of the world, which. The eastwest trade routes between greece and china began to open during the first and second centuries b. Empires of the silk road princeton university press. In this intriguing book, xinru liu reveals both why and how this longdistance trade in luxury goods emerged in the late third century bce, following its.

The silk road was an ancient network of trade routes, formally established during the han dynasty of china, which linked the regions of the ancient world in commerce between bce1453 ce. This is an excellent book which takes a different perspective on history than the usual run of history books. This is one of those lovely history books that is entirely readable. The silk roads continue to capture the imagination of the public, and, in 2014, a section of the land routes was designated a world heritage site by unesco. A history of china to 1600, negotiating daily life in traditional china, and voyages in world history coauthored with kenneth r. The silk road in world history by xinru liu books on. Like runciman, frankopan is a multilingual byzantinist whose first books were about the crusades. Silk road in world history new oxford world history author.

The silk road in world history ebook written by xinru liu. In june 2016 the silk roads was chosen to be the waterstones nonfiction book of the month. A history of china to 1600, negotiating daily life in traditional china. The concept that the world, or its hugest continent, possesses a heart or a womb or a memory is an ancient one, and the oxford historian peter frankopan, in the introduction to his the silk roads.

This network of exchange emerged along the borders between agricultural china and the steppe nomads during the han dynasty 206bce220ce, in consequence of the interdependence and the conflicts of these. The silk road is as iconic in world history as the colossus of rhodes or the suez canal. This is the question frankopan answers in this immensely entertaining work. On the ancient silk road, a walk shadowed by a mystery.

The silk road was the contemporary name for a comple. The reality was differentand far more interestingas. The linking of asia to europe via eurasia for conquest and trade since at least 120bc is a unique part of the worlds history. From the middle east and its political instability to china and its economic rise, the vast region. A new history of the world reprint by frankopan, peter isbn. Over 80 countries are now part of the initiative, frankopan points out, encompassing more than 63% of. Because of that, this book gets rather dull and selective at times. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. This book is not as advertised a new history of the world, but rather a view of the economic impact of trade on the western world. Today, most people travel the silk road in a land rover.

In the past decade, she has spent three years in china. This second period of fascination with the silk road has resulted in not only a substantial body of both learned and popular publications as well as productions in other media but also in an ever. Also, the book offers a very good introduction to the history of central asia which is, unfortunately, insufficiently examined. As a textbook for a world history class, its appeal lies not only in the romance of the silk road but also in its use of material culture to write world history by connecting economic and political activities with the religious values of various traditions. Much of the new silk roads is about how chinas road has come to ring the world. By purchasing books through this website, you support our nonprofit organization. A very engaging book on the evolution of the silk road, and its pivotal role in the promotion of trade and connecting empires in world history. To find out more about valerie hansen and the silk road, visit her website at. The title is a bit misleading, in that the subject matter is far wider than than the silk roads. A new history of the world, declares a childhood obsession with it. It looks at world history from the perspective of the lands along the silk roads the trading routes which brought silk from china to europe, and gold and silver in the other direction. The silk road in world history by xinru liu oxford university press, 2010 it covers the history and culture of the silk road in the widest sense and brings in the contacts and influences withfrom india, persia and the mediterranean. Many books have been written which claim to be a new history of the world.

This network of exchange emerged along the borders between agricultural china and the steppe nomads during the han dynasty 206bce220ce, in consequence of the interdependence and the conflicts of these two distinctive societies. Silk road in world history new oxford world history. The silk road in world history new oxford world history 9780195338102. The silk road i 1 of 12 the glories of ancient changan.

We read here about his expedition but no analysis relating to the silk road at all. The silk road was a network of trade routes which connected the east and west, and was central to the economic, cultural, political, and religious interactions between these regions from the 2nd century bce to the 18th century. Several avenues are available for members of the uva community needing library resources, including hathitrusts newlyreleased trove of ed digital material, open educational resources, online journals, databases, and ebooks. The silk road in world history the silk road was the contemporary name for a complex of ancient trade routes linking east asia with central asia, south asia, and the mediterranean world. The silk road in world history by xinru liu booksamillion. Far more than a history of the silk roads, this book is truly a revelatory new history of the world, promising to destabilize notions of where we come from and where we are headed next. It conjures up a hazy image of a caravan of camels laden with silk on a dusty desert track, reaching from china to rome. Books reading about the silk road asia central asia. The book barely touches upon the cultural, religious, and even political history of the silk road and its heartland, central asia. Reviews on the silk roads were generally positive and were published by the guardian, the independent, the telegraph, the times. The silk road in world history new oxford world history kindle edition by liu, xinru. A lively read as far as history goes at least the silk roads is a sweeping view of world history, covering particularly the rise, fall and rise of the east. For a different take on the same material, 2 other books you can check out are the silk road.

Books to read about the silk road guide for seniors. Today muslim central asiathe main backdrop of silk road historymay seem like a forgotten backwater in the current of global news. Peter frankopan is a trained historian, and so knows how to synthesise a great deal of information from cultures across asia and europe. Valerie hansen is professor of history at yale university.

Xinru liu the silk road was the contemporary name for a complex of ancient trade routes linking east asia with central asia, south asia, and the mediterranean world. The silk roads is part of the genre of popular history books that purports to tell the history of the world through one particular theme or from one particular vantage point, and is better than most of them. China also received nestorian christianity and buddhism from india via. A new history of the world is a counterblast to another ambitious book from an earlier generation, j.

To fi nd out more about our authors and books visit here you will fi nd extracts, author interviews, details of forthcoming events and. Instead, a complex network of trade routes spanned afroeurasias mountains, plains, deserts, and seas. Silk road, ancient trade route, linking china with the west, that carried goods and ideas between the two great civilizations of rome and china. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the silk road in world history new oxford world history. Frankopan is an exhilarating companion for the journey along the routes which conveyed silk, slaves, ideas, religion, and disease, and around which today may hang the destiny of the world. This is strictly a economic history of the silk road as a trade system. The best books on central asia and the silk road region. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the silk road in world history. Asias history brilliant threads books and arts the. What does history look like if we shift our focus eastward and give due prominence to those who traversed the silk roads.

Today, it is the east which calls out to those in search of adventure and riches. The silk road in world history by xinru liu, 2010 online. How ordinary people used contracts, 6001400, changing gods in medieval china, 11271276, and, with kenneth r. Silk roads by susan whitfield hardcover university of. The silk road in world history new oxford world history. The first complete history of central eurasia from ancient times to the present day, empires of the silk road represents a fundamental rethinking of the origins, history, and significance of this major world region. An ambitious persiancentric rewrite of world history is full of insight but let down by factual errors. The silk road in world history um library digital collections. The silk road in world history xinru liu everything you always wanted to know about the silk road, this is the benchmark book on this chapter of the history of the region.