Silk as Commodity and Technology

1000 BCE-1000 CE

Key Technological Transmissions on “Silk Roads”

Middle East to East Asia, 2000-500 BCE

Wheat cultivation, cattle and sheep domestication, bronze & iron working

(Only millet cultivation moving from east to west in early period)

Central Eurasia to East and West Asia, 1500-500 BCE

Horse domestication, chariot, cavalry with composite bow

East-West Silk Road Transmission, 100-1300 CE

Silk Bio-tech complex, Paper, Compass, Gunpowder, Firearms

Iron Metallurgy

Bactria (Silk road oasis), ca. 1000 BCE

Tuva (S. Siberia/N. Mongolia steppe), 8th c. BCE

N. Ordos (China’s steppe borderlands), ca. 700 BCE

Xinjiang (Silk road oases), 10th-7th c. BCE

Eastern Zhou China, 7th c. BCE

W. Europe vs. Byzantine, Iranian, Chinese and Islamic Empires, 600-900 CE

Cities Smaller

Technology lagged behind

No silk, paper, printing, etc.

Agriculture and Commerce less developed

Silk Road commodity Transfer, 100-1300 CE

Long distance trade

“The Silk Road trade was largely the byproduct of Chinese government spending—not long-distance commerce conducted by private merchants” (Hansen, p. 175, last sentence of Chapter 3 on Turfan).

How does Hansen use the Sogdian Ancient Letters 2 & 5 to support her thesis in Chapter 4?

Cross-cultural transmission of commodities and technology

Long distance trade

Imperial unity thesis

Trade within empires

Tang Dynasty China, 7th-8th centuries

Muslim Caliphates, 7th-12th centuries

Gaochang Kingdom “Scale Fee” Ledger, ca. 600

“[Transactions] from the 12th month 27th day: [A] Kang Niuhepantuo purchased 650 jin [pounds] of incense/spices and 201 jin [pounds] of ammonium chloride (囱沙[硇砂]) from [B] Kang Mozhi; [the tax collector] received 21 [silver] coins from the two sides…”

10 to 12 donkeys can carry 850 pounds

Trade goods taxed on multiple occasions

Incense/spice (xiang 香)

Gold (jin 金)

Silver (yin 銀)

Silk thread (si 糸 [絲])

Ammonium chloride (囱沙[硇砂])

Kucha

Sogdiana

Discussion of Whitfield, “Byzantine Hunter Silk,” pp. 190-218.

1. How does the Byzantine hunter silk represent the transmission of complex technology over the silk roads?

Why is silk production difficult to transmit over the silk road? Think of the plant and insect domestication and spinning and weaving technology required.

2. How does the Byzantine hunter silk represent transmission and syncretism of artistic motifs? Think of the pearl roundel, hunting scene, lion and dog.

3. How does the Byzantine hunter silk represent transmission of diplomatic practices stretching from China in the east to France in the west?

4. How does the Byzantine hunter silk represent transmission of religious practices from India or China in the east to France in the west?