The Silk Road, an ancient and mysterious trade route, carries the exchange and integration of Eastern and Western civilizations, and its history can be traced back to the pastThe Han Dynasty more than 2,000 years ago
So, who exactly opened it up?
Although historians generally believe that the earliest pioneer of the Silk Road was Zhang Qian during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, in fact,The Silk Road existed long before Zhang Qian.
Speaking of the opening of the Silk Road, we cannot fail to mention Zhang Qian. He was a well-known explorer and diplomat of the Western Han DynastyThe two missions to the Western Regions built a bridge for the communication between the Han Dynasty and the countries of the Western Regions.
During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, after the recuperation of Wenjingzhizhi, the national strength of the Han Dynasty has reached a new height. However, the external situation faced by the Han Dynasty at this time was very severe. The Xiongnu in the north continued to invade southward, trying to prevent the rise of the Han Dynasty.
In order to break the blockade of the Xiongnu, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty decided to adopt an active foreign policy, open up the Silk Road to the Western Regions, establish contact with the countries of the Western Regions, and jointly fight against the Xiongnu.
It was in this historical background that Zhang Qian shouldered the mission of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty and embarked on the journey of the Western Regions.
According to the Historical Records: The Biography of Dawan, Zhang Qian's first trip to the Western Regions was in 138 BC, and he took more than 100 people from Chang'an to go through hardships and finally arrived in the Great Xia Kingdom (now the Tarim Basin).
Although Zhang Qian failed to complete the original task of uniting the Dayue clan to fight against the XiongnuHowever, it allowed the Han Dynasty to understand the customs and geographical environment of the Western Regions.
In 119 BC, Zhang Qian once again sent an envoy to the Western Regions, successfully established contacts with the countries of the Western Regions, and went west through the Hexi Corridor to Dawan, Kangju and other places in Central Asia, and further extended to South Asia, West Asia and even Europe.
That time, he brought more envoys and gifts, successfully befriended the Great Xia Kingdom, and opened up a new road to China and the West.
This mission not only enhanced the economic and cultural exchanges between the Han Dynasty and the countries of the Western Regions, but also laid the foundation for the future prosperity of the Silk Road.
It is mentioned in "Hanshu Western Regions Biography" that after Zhang Qian returned, "Yan Dawan is a good horse, but the soldiers are weak, and the wealth of the noble Han Dynasty".After this mission, Chinese silk, porcelain and other items began to circulate on a large scale along the route he traveled to the Western Regions and beyondHorses, precious stones, spices, etc. from the Western Regions were also continuously imported into the Central PlainsThis is what we call the "Silk Road" today.
Therefore, Zhang Qian can be regarded as a pioneer of the Silk Road.
With the success of Zhang Qian's mission, the Han Dynasty set up the Imperial Protectorate in the Western Regions and set up post stations along the road, ensuring the safety and smooth flow of the Silk Road.
Since then, the Silk Road has gradually prospered, starting from Chang'an, crossing the Hexi Corridor, passing through the north and south of the Tarim Basin, and then branching to Central Asia, West Asia and the Mediterranean coast, eventually forming a huge transportation network connecting the East and the West.
There is a caveat hereThe Silk Road does not refer to a single route, which is made up of multiple intertwined land and sea routes.
Although Zhang Qian is known as the pioneer of the Silk Road, in fact, the Silk Road was expanded and perfected by many merchants, envoys, monks and travelers at different times.
However, the formation of the Silk Road was not a matter of one or two days, but gradually formed over a long period of time. Before Zhang Qian's mission to the Western Regions, there had been some scattered ** and cultural exchanges between the East and the West.
For example, as early as the 2nd century BC,Chinese silk has been transmitted to Central Asia and West Asia through the Steppe Silk Road. Moreover, with the external expansion of the Han Dynasty and the rise of the countries in the Western Regions, there were more and more cultural exchanges between the East and the West.
The formation and development of the Silk Road is a complex and lengthy process, which requires the joint efforts of all countries and nations. In the process, there are not only explorers and diplomats like Zhang Qian, but also countless merchants and craftsmen.
They brought silk, tea, and porcelain from the East to the West through the Silk Road, and at the same time brought Western jewelry, medicinal materials, and works of art back to the East, promoting economic prosperity and cultural exchanges between the East and the West.
The opening of the Silk Road was not only an important channel for economic and cultural exchanges between the East and the West in ancient times, but also had a profound impact on world history. It has promoted exchanges and cultural exchanges, and promoted the process of human civilization.
References:
Historical Records: The Biography of Dawan Lie", "Hanshu - Biography of the Western Regions", "New Tang Dynasty Book: Biography of the Western Regions", Rong Xinjiang: "Medieval China and Foreign Civilizations" Silk Road