Connor+G


 * The Silk Road**

Happy Trails is a travel writer for //Explore// magazine and keenly interested in the Silk Road. A self-proclaimed renaissance man, Mr. Trails enjoys outdoor activities, photography, and attending cultural events. To help Mr. Trails decide which features of the Silk Road he should travel back in time to visit, you'll need to research the Silk Road and present your key findings on the following questions:

= **Key Questions:** =


 * 1) What was the Silk Road? How was the Silk Road created? How was it protected? How were cities and territories connected?
 * 2) What type of goods or ideas- physical, intellectual, or religious- crossed the Silk Road?
 * 3) Why is the Silk Road important to World History? What is the relationship between the Silk Road and the Han Dynasty and Roman Empire?

=Resources= Your research will be confined to the following web resources and library databases. If you wish to use a resource not on this list you must seek approval from your teacher.

**The Silk Road**
 * []
 * []
 * [|http://www.ess.uci.edu/~oliver/silk.html]
 * [|http://www.ess.uci.edu/~oliver/silk2.html]
 * []


 * Library Databases **
 * @http://www.micdslibrary.com/databases.html

Scroll down to the History/Social Studies menu; the ABCCLIO Ancient World History database is particularly helpful.

=Research and Citations= Use the space below to record your research for each question. Remember that you will need to cite your sources using the format found on the MICDS Library resource page.

What was the Silk Road?
The Silk Road was widely understood to have been a major trade route from China to the mediterranean world. It opened in the 2nd century and ended between the 15th and 17th centuries. This road was the most well-known trading route of ancient Chinese civilization and trade grew under the Han Dynasty in the first and second centuries AD. Originally the Chinese traded silk among themselves eternally but, when the Silk Road was created caravans set out along the road to different regions to trade silk and other goods. This road was an important communication between cultures and economies, also it was the first link to Asia, Europe, and Africa.

=== How was the Silk Road created? The Silk Road was made possible by the expansion of the Han Empire. The military defeated nomadic tribes, allowing trade routes to be opened. A Chinese explorers, Zhan Qian, travels opened the way for trade between China and it's western neighbors. In 138 B.C.E. he went west to form alliances with western peoples against the Huns. He was not able to form an alliance but his mission was a success because it helped the Chinese to learn about cultures to the west. He went on a second journey and found good battle horses, discovered grapes, and established trade relations in the west. Soon, many other traders traveled farther west by smaller trade routes. These routes soon collided in to one big route then called The Silk Road. The Silk Road was made by making a paste-like mixture, like concrete, out of rock,sand and water. This mixture was then laid down with layers of brick making up the road. ===

How was it protected?
The Silk Road was protected by the army/military guards (men and women) and sometimes prisoners of war guard the outposts and caravans. Alliances of nearby settlements also helped keep guard and protect as well. Earlier there was no protection for these traders so nomadic peoples robbed them of there precious goods. Since protection came, the robbers would not dare to even try. Caravans felt safe knowing that they could trade now, without getting robbed.

=== How were cities and territories connected? Cities and territories are connected by trading of resources. They depended on each other for resources they had. Trading routes connected these places so goods could be traded. Those goods were then passed from place to place along different routes. All these trading routes and territories met together and created one big system called "The Silk Road." ===

What type of goods or ideas- physical, intellectual, or religious- crossed the Silk Road?
The Chinese traded many goods along the Silk Road like silk, ceramics, bamboo, furs, technology, gunpowder, tea, animals, fruits and vegtables, spices, and wines. They also traded iron, gold, platinum, bronze, and tons more. A few things they got in return are slaves and precious stones (there are many more). Ideas like Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism also crossed this road as well. Confucianism is based on the teachings of Kongfuzi. The goal of Confucianism was to have a peaceful society. It is always about respecting your elders and be kind, honest etc. Daoism is based on the idea of the Dao, or "The Way." It is all about nature and opposites like life and death or light and darkness. Finally Legalism was based on the teachings of Hanfeizi. It was all about how people were born selfish and they didn't think teaching proper behavior was the answer. Instead they had strict laws and punishments.

Why is the Silk Road important to World History? What is the relationship between the Silk Road and the Han Dynasty and Roman Empire?
The Silk Road was important to World History because it taught historians about what mistakes we made and how we can improve on them. Also on what they did good and how we can use that. It is also important because it taught use where and how people lived by trading along The Silk Road. The road ran along the Han Dynasty and Roman Empire which led to a great trading link so that people could live with all the resources they needed.

Similarities and Differences
Before deciding which dynasty your client should visit, you may wish to create a simple Venn Diagram to compare/contrast the two empires. You may use [|this template] or create one online at Read-Write-Think.

Which empire should Mr. Trails, a travel writer, visit? Why?
= **Travel Poster Components:** =

The travel poster should be attractive, persuasive, and highlight the major features of the Silk Road as they relate to each empire. You will create the poster using Glogster.edu (instructions will be provided in class) and it should contain the following components:

__**Travel Poster Components**__
 * 1) One Glogster.edu poster for the Silk Road
 * 2) At least six "must see" tourist destinations/features with detailed text and relevant images
 * 3) At least two audio recordings

//Note: For the Silk Road, "destinations/features" may be physical, intellectual, or religious.//

The **[|Poster Rubric]** will be used to evaluate your work; you should refer to it before handing in your final product. When you have completed the poster, embed it below the "Travel Poster" heading below:

Travel Poster
//embed your poster here by copying the embed code from Glogster and adding an HTML widget//

= **Oral Presentation Guidelines** = The presentation is your opportunity to explain why the Silk Road is an ideal tourist destination and should follow these guidelines:


 * 1) Less than 3 minutes in length
 * 2) Should address/explain the "must see" features of the Silk Road
 * 3) Should explain why the client should visit these features

This presentation is about speaking skills and the use of your poster. You will be permitted to use notecards but are NOT to simply read your notes to the audience. The **[|Presentation Rubric]** will be used to evaluate your work; you should refer to it before giving your final presentation.