What is the Silk Road? The Silk Road, comprised of the various Silk Routes, was a vast network of interconnected land and sea trade routes that connected the Chinese Empire to Europe, dipping as far down as Java-Indonesia and even present day Southern Somalia. Traditionally speaking, the 'main' Silk Road thought of by most is represented by the above map - connecting the Yellow River Valley to the Mediterranean Sea; passing through many Central Asian cities throughout its winding journey. Many valuable items of trade passed through these routes - silk, spices, teas and porcelain from China; ivory, textiles, precious stones and metals and pepper from India.   With this blog I hope to take you all on a historical journey through the fascinating and vibrant cultures that spanned the Silk Routes - each rich with their own set of folklore and mythos, contributing to the splendor of historical Eurasia. I'll take you on tea tasting tours, visit merchants for their samples of silk, indulge in luscious wines, inspect the wares of the best jewel and weapon smiths; and of course appreciate fine art, good food and music along the way.  Join me as we discover art, music, culture, beauty, jewelry, weapons, clothing, history and poetry - all the little things that make up the splendor of the wondrous Silk Routes.
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