Learn about trade on the Silk Road in this featured Quick Talk.
Genre: Map | Creator: William Shepherd | Date: 1911
This map of 13th-century Asian trade routes was created by the cartographer and professor of history William Shepherd for his 1911 Historical Atlas. It details the land and sea travels of John of Pian del Carpine, William of Rubruck, and Marco Polo, illustrating the path of the Silk Road from the Middle East across central Asia.
Pose the following question to students:
What details did you identify concerning the main trade routes across Asia?
Students will engage in a silent discussion, which will provide an opportunity to generate, share, and reflect on ideas with their peers. Students will write all comments on the board.
Use this additional sourcing information to further contextualize the source in order to deepen students’ analysis and evaluation.
The Silk Road linked Western empires with Persia, India, and China, making travel faster and safer for merchants and travelers. This expanded trade between empires and encouraged the cultural diffusion that spread language, religion, art, and more.
This map of travel routes through Asia was created to illustrate the routes taken by merchants as well as by the individual explorers Marco Polo, John of Pian del Carpine, and William of Rubruck.
Included in a Historical Atlas, published in 1911, this map was intended for the academic study of medieval trade routes through Asia.
The word caravanserai originates from two Persian words: Caravan-a group of travelers-and Seray-home. Hundreds of caravanserais operated along the Silk Road and varied from small establishments to large fortress-like complexes.
Use the following information to provide reading comprehension support.
Students may be confused by the level of detail presented in this map. Encourage students to zoom in on the map and reference the map key for better understanding.
Students may be confused by the fact that the Silk Road was not a single path through central Asia. Explain to students that as indicated on this map, the Silk Road was actually a network of connected routes.
To extend discussions, consider asking the following questions.
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