On Interfaces on the Great Silk Road: Historical Examples of Relations Between Middle Asia and China

The term “Great Silk Road” was coined in 1877 by the German geologist, geographer and traveler Ferdinand von Richthofen (1833-1905). Through the Great Silk Road from China to Rome from the 3rd century BC not only silk spread, but also religious and cultural ideas. Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva - ancient cities were the central points of the Silk Road. Trade and diplomatic exchange between China and Central Asia begins in the 1st century. BC. The ruler of the Han dynasty, U-Di (reigned in 141-87 BC), sent in 138 BC his envoy Zhan Tsan to establish an alliance with Yue-chi in the fight against the Huns. Many years later, Zhan Tsan managed to return home with information about the prosperous Fergana, Samarkand, Bukhara and Balkh and gained access to the homeland of the legendary “heaveny horses”, and also gave China the opportunity to open trade routes through Sichuan to Turkestan and Bactria. The relationships between East and West were bilateral - Western fabrics were imported into China, especially Persian and Syrian brocade, Byzantine fabrics, cotton and wool fabrics, embroidery. In addition to the glorious horses, the Chinese valued hunting dogs, falcons, cheetahs, wines, glassware and rock crystal. In the VIII century, music, dancers, actors from Samarkand and Bukhara gained wide popularity in China. Gradually, silk production began to spread outside of China, by the 6th century, silk weaving centers arose in Sogd and the Byzantine Empire. The significance of the Great Silk Road was not only in commodity exchange, but also for centuries there has been a cultural, scientific and technological exchange.