The Silk Road: Connecting the ancient world through trade

With modern technology, a global exchange of goods and ideas can happen at the click of a button. But what about 2,000 years ago? Shannon Harris Castelo unfolds the history of the 5,000-mile Silk Road, a network of multiple routes that used the common language of commerce to connect the world's major settlements, thread by thread.



Source: Ted Talks

After listening to this presentation, answer the following questions:

1. Which factors hindered early connections between early river valley civilizations?
2. What role did nomadic people play in the establishment of the Silk Road trade?
3.  The conquests of which Greek leader led to the expansion of the Silk Road?
4. What religion makes it way from India along Silk Roads to China? 
5. The diffusion of maritime technology, like the magnetic compass, led to which effect?
6. What role did the physical geography of Eurasia play in the establishment of Silk Road trade routes?
7. Silk Road trade led to global exchange and cultural blending to create new cultural elements. Can you think of a specific example of how the modern world economy has led to similar effects?

We often glorify the positive exchanges along the Silk Road, but can you think of a possible negative impact of global trade on society in either the ancient or modern world?