Courses

The Silk Roads were a network that connected peoples and regions across the Afro-Eurasian landmass. The circulation of people, information, and cultural and material wares through this network impacted the history of all societies involved, shaping political interactions and bringing new technologies, art forms, and ideas. This course will examine how the Silk Roads linked and transformed regions and societies through trade, diplomacy, religion, and conquest. We will explore how societies interacted across vast distances; the emergence and interaction of the religious traditions of Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Islam, and Christianity; the journeys of people, objects, and ideas; and the roles of nomadic conquest and imperialist competition. By analyzing sources of various kinds, from historical texts to archaeological artifacts, frescos, and maps, students will gain insight into the connected history of Afro-Eurasia and appreciate the lasting impact of the Silk Roads in today’s cultural landscape.