Chapter 23 The Silk Road丝绸之路
1.What is“the Silk Road”？
The Silk Road was a general name for the ancient strategic transportation channel which started from China and passed through Central Asia，West Asia，Africa and Europe．In the 19th century，when the name of Silk Road was first used by a German geographer，it just included the land road from China's Xinjiang to Central Asia．Later it was expanded gradually and reached West Asia，Europe and Africa．It took in land and water routes．It is not only an important route connecting the ancient world，but also a synonym for economic and cultural exchanges between the western world and the oriental world．
1)Early History of the Silk Road
The Silk Road was an international passage with historical significance．The ancient Silk Road helped to integrate the old Chinese，Indian，Persian，Arabian，ancient Greek and Roman cultures and promote the exchange of the Occidental and Oriental civilizations．
Zhang Qian of the Han Dynasty is the first diplomat who led a diplomatic mission to Xiyu(ancient Xinjiang)．He traveled the road and took gold and silk products there between 139 B．C．and 138 B．C．His assistants visited Anxi(now Iran)，India and a number of other countries．These countries and regions in turn also sent diplomatic missions to China，which brought a busy trade to Xinjiang．Ancient central China's silk products，iron ware，gold，bronze mirror，bamboo work，medicine，farming techniques were introduced to Xiyu(ancient Xinjiang)，India and Europe．And grape，flax，walnut，cucumber，elephant，camel and house and some other plants and animals were taken to central China at that time．
Ban Chao and his assistant Gan Ying are other two diplomats sent to Xiyu by the Han government．They led a diplomatic mission of 36 people and arrived at Xiyu and Daqin(ancient Rome)on the Persian Gulf．India's famous monk also came to central China's Henan through Pakistan and Afghanistan in 147 and 401 respectively，to translate Buddhist Scriptures and enroll thousands of disciples．Chinese high-ranking monk Xuan Zang in the Tang Dynasty visited India and dozens of other countries and districts and did missionary work in these countries along the Silk Road．
Another historic person worth mentioning here is Italy's famous adventurer Marco Polo．He came to Yuan's capital Dadu along the Silk Road in 1275．He gave a detailed description about the local custom and culture in his book The Travels．
2)Europe's Fascination with Silk
In only a few decades all the ruling families of Rome were anxious to attire themselves in silk．By A．D．14，silk had gotten so out of hand that Emperor Tiberius，disgusted by the revelatory bulges of this light and delicate fabric，forbade all men from wearing it．Before long the mystery of silk's manufacture sucked Rome's intellectuals into a blazing fervor．Pliny affirmed that“Silk was obtained by removing the down from the leaves with the help of water”．Others countered that it grew like wood in the forest．
Despite the foment of wild curiosity of its customers，the prudent merchants of China made every effort to keep silk's manufacture a secret．It was limited to the far off hinterlands of Sichuan，away from the prying eyes and the“big noses”of venturesome foreigners．Border guards，placed on high alert，double-checked all foreigners'belongings．
A legion of stories of silk smuggling spread far and wide．The most romantic involves a young Chinese princess anxious to please her betrothed，the King of Yutian．When the King's envoy revealed to her his master's passion for silk，the princess resolved to smuggle the secret of silk to him．A few days later the princess set off in a glittering cavalcade on her long journey westwards．Many days later，when they reached China's border at Dunhuang's Yumen Gate，her party was thoroughly inspected．Even the princess'personal belongings were closely scrutinized，much to the displeasure of the king's envoy．After passing through the border gate，he approached the princess to inquire if she had succeeded in satiating his King's love of silk．Removing her crown，the princess revealed silk worms hidden in her hair．Amongst her medicines，she showed him the mulberry seeds she had hidden in plain sight．Pointing at her serving maids，she revealed that，“all women in the Central Plains know how to grow mulberry seeds and rear silk worms．”Thus，the secret of silk escaped the confines of China．
3)The Nature of the Route
The description of this route to the west as the“Silk Road”is somewhat misleading．Firstly，although the route started from the capital in Chang'an，there are many branches．The northern route then passed through Yumen Guan(Jade Gate Pass)and crossed the neck of the Gobi desert to Hami．The southern route branched off at Dunhuang，passing through the Yang Guan and skirting the southern edges of the desert，via Miran，Hetian and Shache，finally turning north again to meet the other route at Kashgar．
Secondly，the Silk Road was not a trade route that existed solely for the purpose of trading in silk;many other commodities were also traded，from gold and ivory to exotic animals and plants．Of all the precious goods crossing this area，silk was perhaps the most remarkable for the people of the West．In addition to silk，the route carried many other precious commodities．Caravans heading towards China carried gold and other precious metals，ivory，precious stones，and glass，which were not manufactured in China until the 5th century．In the opposite direction furs，ceramics，jade，bronze objects，lacquer and iron were carried．
4)The Development of the Route
The development of these Central Asian trade routes caused some problems for the Han rulers in China．Bandits soon learnt of the precious goods traveling up the Gansu Corridor and skirting the Taklimakan desert，and took advantage of the terrain to plunder these caravans．Caravans of goods needed their own defense forces，and this was an added cost for the merchants making the trip．This was partially overcome by building forts and defensive walls along part of the route．Sections of the“Great Wall”were built along the northern side of the Gansu Corridor，to try to prevent the Huns from harming the trade．Sections of Han dynasty wall can still be seen as far as Yumen Guan．However，these fortifications were not all as effective as intended，as the Chinese lost control of sections of the route at regular intervals．
After the Western Han dynasty，successive dynasties brought more states under Chinese control．Settlements came and went，as they changed hands or lost importance due to a change in the routes．The Chinese garrison town of Loulan，for example，on the edge of the Lop Por Lake，was important in the 3rd century，but was abandoned when the Chinese lost control of the route for a period．Many settlements were buried during times of abandonment by the sands of the Taklimakan．
The settlements reflected the nature of the trade passing through the region．Silk，on its way to the west，often got no further than this region of Central Asia．The Astana tombs，where the nobles of Gaochang were buried，have turned up examples of silk cloth from China，as well as objects from as far afield as Persia and India．Much can be learned about the customs of the time from the objects found in these graves，and from the artwork of the time，which has been excellently preserved on the tomb walls，due to the extremely dry conditions．
The most significant commodity carried along this route was not silk，but religion．Buddhism came to China from India this way，along the northern branch of the route．The Eastern Han Emperor Mingdi is thought to have sent a representative to India to discover more about this strange faith，and further missions returned bearing scriptures，and bringing with them Indian priests．With this came influences from the Indian sub-continent，including Buddhist artwork．This was considerably influenced by the Himalayan Massif，an effective barrier between China and India，and hence Buddhism in China is effectively derived from the Gandhara culture by the bend in the Indus(a river in Northwestern India)，rather than directly from India．Buddhism reached the pastures of Tibet at a rather later period，not developing fully until the 7th century．Along the way it developed under many different influences，before reaching central China．This is displayed clearly in the artwork，where many of the cave paintings show people with clearly different ethnic backgrounds，rather than the expected Central and East Asian peoples．
The greatest flux of Buddhism into China occurred during the Northern Wei Dynasty，in the 4th and 5th centuries．This was at a time when China was divided into several different kingdoms，and the Northern Wei Dynasty had its capital in Datong in present day Shanxi Province．The rulers encouraged the development of Buddhism，and more missions were sent towards India．The new religion spread slowly eastwards，through the oases surrounding the Taklimakan，encouraged by an increasing number of merchants，missionaries and pilgrims．Many of the local peoples adopted Buddhism as their own religion．
Some devotees were sufficiently inspired by the new ideas that they headed off in search of the source，towards India;others started to build monasteries，grottos．The development of the grotto is particularly interesting;the edges of the Taklimakan hide some of the best examples in the world．The hills surrounding the desert are mostly of sandstone，with any streams or rivers carving cliffs that can be relatively easily dug into;there was also no shortage of funds for the work，particularly from wealthy merchants，anxious to invoke protection or give thanks for a safe desert crossing．Gifts and donations of this kind were seen as an act of merit，which might enable the donor to escape rebirth into this world．In many of the murals，the donors themselves are depicted，often in pious attitude．This explains why the Mogao grottos contain some of the best examples of Buddhist artwork．
The best-known grottos are the Mogao grottos at Dunhuang，at the eastern end of the Taklimakan．It is here that the greatest number and some of the best examples are to be found．More is known about the origins of these，too，as large quantities of ancient documents have been found．These are on a wide range of subjects，and include a large number of Buddhist scriptures in Chinese，Sanskrit，Tibetan，Uygur and other languages，some still unknown．There are documents from the other faiths that developed in the area and also some official documents and letters that reveal a lot about the system of government at the time．
The grotto building was not confined to the Taklimakan;there is a large cluster at Bamiyan in the Hindu Kush，in present-day Afghanistan．It is here that the second largest sculpture of Buddha in the world can be found，at 55 metres high．
For the archaeologist these grottos are particularly valuable sources of information about the Silk Road．Along with the images of Buddhas，there are scenes of the everyday life of the people at the time．Scenes of celebration and dancing give an insight into local customs and costume．The influences of the Silk Road traffic are therefore quite clear in the mix of cultures that appears on these murals at different dates．In particular，the development of Buddhism from the Indian style to a more individual faith is evident on studying the murals from different eras in any of the grotto clusters．
The Northern Wei Dynasty，which is perhaps the most responsible for the spread of Buddhism in China，started the construction of the Yungang grottos in northern Shanxi Province．When the capital of the Northern Wei was transfered to Luoyang，the artists and masons started building the Longmen grottos．These two more“Chinese”grottos emphasized carving and statuary rather than the delicate murals of the Taklimakan regions，and the figures are quite impressive in their size;the largest figure at Yungang measures more than 17 metres in height，second only in China to the great Leshan Buddha in Sichuan，which was constructed in the early 8th Century．
5)The Greatest Years
The height of the importance of the Silk Road was during the Tang Dynasty，with relative internal stability in China after the divisions of the earlier dynasties since the Han．The individual states has mostly been assimilated，and the threats from marauding peoples were rather less．Chang'an，as the starting point of the route，as well as the capital of the dynasty，developed into one of the largest and most cosmopolitan cities of the time．By 742，the population had reached almost two million，and the city itself covered almost the same area as present-day Xi'an，considerably more than within the present walls of the city．The 754 census showed that five thousand foreigners lived in the city，like Turks，Iranians，Indians and others from along the Road，as well as Japanese，Koreans and Malays from the east．Many were missionaries，merchants or pilgrims，but every other occupation was also represented．Rare plants，medicines，spices and other goods from the west were to be found in the bazaars of the city．It is quite clear，however，despite the exotic imports，that the Chinese regarded all foreigners as barbarians;the gifts provided for the Emperors by foreign rulers were simply considered as tribute from vassal states．
During this period，in the 7th century，the Chinese traveller Xuan Zang crossed the region on his way to obtain Buddhist scriptures from India．He followed the northern branch on his outward journey，and the southern route on his return;he carefully recorded the cultures and styles of Buddhism along the way and brought back 600 scriptures from India．He is still seen by the Chinese as an important influence in the development of Buddhism in China．
6)The Decline of the Silk Road
Politically，when the Yuan Dynasty was replaced by the Ming Dynasty in 1368，the Ming Dynasty carried on the isolationist policies，these policies did nothing to encourage trade between China and the West．This attitude was maintained throughout the Ming and Qing Dynasties．Therefore，the barriers rose on the land route between East and West．
The decline of the Silk Road also owes much to the development of the silk route by sea．It was becoming rather easier and safer to transport goods by water rather than overland．Ships had become stronger and more reliable，and the route passed promising new markets in Southern Asia．The overland problems of“tribal politics”between the different peoples along the route prompted this move．In the early 15th century，the Chinese seafarer Zheng He commanded seven major maritime expeditions to Southeast Asia and India，and as far as Arabia and the east coast of Africa．Diplomatic relations were built up with several countries along the route，and this increased the volume of trade Chinese merchants brought to the area．
2.The Travels of Marco Polo and the Silk Road
Marco Polo(1254-1324)was an Italian trader and explorer who gained fame for his worldwide travels．Polo was one of the first Westerners to travel the Silk Road to China(which he called Cathay)．The Polo party left Venice in 1271．They spent 17 years in China and left China in late 1290 or early 1291 and were back in Venice in 1292．
After returning to Europe，he wrote The Travels of Marco Pole，describing his traveling experiences．The book had been an authoritative book for those who studied the history of China，especially the history of Yuan Dynasty．Marco Polo went east to the capital of Yuan Dynasty from Crimea along the Silk Road．In The Travel，Marco Polo recorded in detail what he saw in the Western Region and Persia，from custom and habit，dressing，languages，etiquette，character and script to how they were influenced by the oriental Empire．Marco Polo arrived at Dadu(the Capital of Yuan Dynasty)in 1275，approximately 30 years after the Mongolian army Europe．Despite the attempt of Yuan Taizu to turn the whole world into grassland for tending the animals the Mongolians left nothing but dreadful memory to Europe．It seems that conquest by armed forces is not as effective as civilization．Marco Polo was surprised that even in Yuan Dynasty，the countries of Western Region should retain the ancient oriental civilization of several hundred years ago．Though Tang Dynasty had fallen for nearly 500 to 600 years，its influence and prestige，through the Silk Road，on the West Asia，Mid-Asia and Europe still remained．
Word Bank
integrate使构成整体，使融合
diplomat外交家，外交官
missionary传教士
attire使穿衣
revelatory揭示性的
bulge凸起，膨胀
fervor热情
affirm肯定，断定
foment引起，增长
prudent精明的
hinterland内地，腹地
double-check复查，仔细检查
legion众多，大批
envoy使者，外交官
cavalcade马车队
scrutinize仔细检查
satiate使某人充分满足
mulberry桑树
confine界限，边界，范围
mislead误导
skirt沿着某物的边缘走
caravan穿越沙漠的旅行队或商队
assimilate使同化，吸收
cosmopolitan世界性的
pilgrim朝圣者，香客
barbarian野蛮人，粗鲁人
tribute贡品
vassal附庸，下属，附属国
isolationist闭关锁国的，孤立主义的
plunder掠夺，抢劫
fortification防御性工程
flux流量，流出量
oasis(pl．oases)绿洲
devotee信徒，热情拥护者
monastery修道院
mason石匠
参考译文
1.什么是丝绸之路？
丝绸之路是古代中国联系中亚、西亚、非洲和欧洲的交通要道。19世纪，德国一个地理学家首次使用“丝绸之路”这一术语，一直沿用到今天。起初，它指从中国新疆到中亚的陆地通道。后来，它延伸到西亚、非洲和欧洲。丝绸之路有水、陆之分。它不仅是中西的交通要道，而且也是中西经济、文化交流的代名词。
1)丝绸之路的早期历史
丝绸之路是一个国际通道，历史悠久。它促进了古代中国文化与印度文化、波斯文化、阿拉伯文化、希腊文化和罗马文化的交流，在中西文化交流之间建立了一座桥梁。
汉代的张骞是第一个出使西域的人。公元前139年至公元前138年，他把黄金、丝绸带到西域。他们一行最终到了安息(现在伊朗)、印度等国。这些国家也派外交使团来到中国，双边贸易非常繁荣。那时中原的丝绸、铁器、黄金制品、青铜器、竹器、中药和农耕技术等被介绍到西域、印度和欧洲。葡萄、亚麻、胡桃、黄瓜、大象、骆驼等动植物被带到当时的中原。
班超是另一位汉朝派遣出使西域的使者。他带领的使团36人，不仅到达了西域，而且远至波斯湾的大秦(古罗马)。公元147年和公元401年，印度先后两次派人来华翻译佛经，传播佛教。唐代高僧玄奘也沿丝绸之路西游印度和其他国家，探求佛本法源。
意大利冒险家马可·波罗1275年沿着丝绸之路来到中国。他曾到过元朝首都大都。他把一路上的所见所闻作了详细的描述，完成了著名的《马可·波罗游记》。
2)欧洲对丝绸的狂热
仅仅几十年，所有罗马统治阶层都渴望穿上丝绸服装。大约公元14年，丝绸极其紧缺，可是人们对丝绸制品的渴望与追求与日俱增，罗马皇帝下令所有人严禁穿丝绸服装。不久，丝绸生产的秘密引起了罗马有识之士的极大兴趣。普利尼断定丝绸是从树叶中提取出来的。有人认为，它像树一样是在森林里长出来的。
尽管人们对丝绸的好奇心日甚一日，但精明的中国商人却严守丝绸生产的秘密。为了避开那些敢于冒险的西方人的耳目，丝绸生产限制在内地(四川一带)。边界有重兵把守，来往外国人必须经过严格的检查，才能放行。
有关丝绸走私方面的故事有很多。最浪漫的是一位中国公主的故事，她爱上了于阗国的国王，而国王对中国的丝绸情有独钟，为了取悦她的未婚夫，她下定决心把丝绸生产的秘密带给国王。几天后，公主及随行车队启程，开始漫长的西行之旅。他们来到玉门关，所有随行人员包括公主都受到了严格的检查，这令国王的使者大为不快。过了玉门关之后，使者便问公主是否带来了心爱的丝绸。公主摘掉帽子，把藏匿在头发里的蚕虫拿出来，又把藏在中药里的桑树种子取出来，并环顾左右，对侍女说:“中原所有的女人都会种桑树，都会养蚕。”自此，丝绸生产的秘密就冲出了国界，传到了西方。
3)丝绸之路的特征
“丝绸之路”的提法可能导致西方人的误解。首先，丝绸之路虽起于长安，但并非只有一条线路，而是有很多分支。通常有南线、北线之分。北线通过玉门关，沿戈壁沙漠至哈密。南线从敦煌分出，穿越阳关，沿南部沙漠至和田、莎车，最后往北，与其他线路交汇于喀什。其次，丝绸之路作为贸易之路的功能并不仅仅限于丝绸贸易，还包括很多别的商品的交易，如黄金、象牙和各种动植物等。只不过丝绸制品最受西方人青睐罢了。外国商队把珍贵的金属、象牙、宝石、玻璃等带到中国;中国则把皮毛、陶器、玉器、青铜器、中国漆、铁器等传到西方。
4)丝绸之路的发展
中亚贸易通道的开通，为汉朝统治者们带来了很多问题。运输一些珍贵商品的商人，当他们通过甘肃走廊和塔克拉玛干沙漠时，时常会遭到匪徒们的抢劫。由于商品运输需要防卫，这样运输成本就增加了。朝廷修筑要塞、城墙，起了一定的保护作用。甘肃走廊北部长城的建设就是为了防止匈奴的袭击。汉长城一直修到了玉门关。不过，随着朝廷政权的更替，这些要塞有时是名存实亡。
西汉之后，后续王朝兴衰存亡、不断更替变迁。比如，罗布泊边上的古镇楼兰，3世纪时是丝绸之路上一个重要军事要塞，随着汉人统治地位的丧失，楼兰就被废弃了，无数生命葬身于茫茫的塔克拉玛干沙漠。
丝绸之路沿线生活定居情况反映出了当时的贸易特征。丝绸最远被带到中亚地区。以阿斯塔纳墓为例，这里埋葬的是当时高昌国的贵族阶层。在这个墓里，既发现了来自中国的丝绸，又发现了来自波斯、印度的物品。由于当地气候干燥，坟墓中的物品包括艺术品都保存完好，对了解当时的习俗文化大有帮助。
不过，这条通道上来往最重要的商品不是丝绸，而是宗教。佛教就是通过丝绸之路传到中国的。据说东汉皇帝曾派人出使印度，学习佛教，带回佛教经典。印度文化主要是佛教文化开始影响中国。由于受到印、中之间喜马拉雅山脉的阻隔，佛教及印度文化主要是通过印度河传入中国的。佛教传入西藏地区稍晚一些，直到7世纪才得到全面展开。沿着这条线路，佛教传入中原地区，并受到多种文化的影响。这一点在一些艺术作品尤其是壁画作品上表现得特别清楚:壁画上展示的是多民族的文化背景，绝不仅仅是中东和东亚的文化背景。
佛教传入中国的鼎盛时期是北魏。这时正是中国四分五裂的时期。北魏定都大同(山西省)。统治者信仰、推行佛教，派遣使者出使印度。正是通过这些使者、传教士、香客和商人的共同努力，佛教慢慢向东传播。人们开始把佛教当成他们的宗教信仰。
一些信徒从教义中得到启示，前往印度，虔诚地追根溯源。有人开始修建隐修院，建造大石窟。沿着塔克拉玛干沙漠一线保留着世界上最典型、最完美的石窟。沙漠周围的小山丘，处处是沙石，溪流从山边流过，是石窟建造的理想环境。况且，由于得到商人们的大力支持，资金也不成问题。商人们的捐赠和善举可使他们死后脱离苦海，进入天国。很多壁画的内容实际上描写的就是一些行善者们的德行和善举。他们态度诚恳虔诚。莫高窟为什么保留着最完美的佛教艺术作品，原因就在于此。
最负盛名的石窟是敦煌的莫高窟，位于塔克拉玛干沙漠东端。在这里大量的石窟、珍贵的历史文献(包括佛经)被发现。这些文献用各种语言写成，如汉语、藏语、维吾尔语和一些不知名的语言。它们有的记载了当地形成的其他信仰，有的还是官方文件和信函，有的来自本民族，有的来自其他文化，反映了当时的状况。
石窟不仅局限在中国的塔克拉玛干沙漠地区，在现在的阿富汗也发现了一个大石窟群。在这里发现了世界上第二大的佛像雕像，有55米高。
对于考古学家来说，石窟也许是了解丝绸之路的最有价值的信息来源。沿途除了栩栩如生的佛像，还有当时人民生活的图景。壁画上那些生动的舞蹈和庆典场面反映当时人们的衣食习惯和风俗。在各种文化的交融中，丝绸之路的作用非常明显。尤其是佛教从印度传入中国，又逐步演变成个人的信仰，这在不同时期的壁画上反映得非常清楚。
北魏是佛教在中国传播最盛的时期，云冈石窟便在这一时期开凿。迁都洛阳后，开始建造龙门石窟。这两个石窟更具有中国特色，强调雕刻、雕塑，而不是强调壁画。人物形象高大，云冈石窟最大的人物塑像高达17米，仅次于四川的乐山大佛(建于8世纪)。
5)丝绸之路的鼎盛时期
丝绸之路的鼎盛时期是唐朝。民族统一，政局稳定，经济繁荣。长安作为丝绸之路的起点和唐朝的首都已经发展成为一个国际大都会，到742年，人口已达到两百万。长安城的面积大体相当于今天的西安城。754年，约有5 000外国人居住在长安，如土耳其人、伊朗人、印度人、日本人、朝鲜人和马来人等。他们多数是使者、商人和香客，也有其他行业的人。在长安城里，来自西方的稀有动植物、药材等处处可见。
在此期间，也就是7世纪，大唐高僧玄奘通过丝绸之路前往印度取经。他取道北线到达印度;又从南线返回。他对沿线各地的风俗、文化作了详细的记录，翻译佛教经典，带回600多册印度文献，对佛教在中国的传播做出了不可磨灭的贡献。
6)丝绸之路的衰落
从政治上讲，1368年，明朝取代元朝后，开始实行闭关锁国的政策，这种政策不利于中西方的贸易往来和文化交往。这种形势一直延续到清朝。
陆地丝绸之路衰落的另一个原因是水上丝绸之路的开辟和发展。一方面，水上交通比陆地交通更加容易、更加安全，运输工具也更为结实可靠。另一方面，水上航线经过南亚诸国，这里充满商机，市场潜力很大。再者，陆地部落间的冲突不断，双边贸易并非总是畅通无阻。15世纪早期，航海家郑和率领的船队7次下西洋，到达东南亚、印度，最远抵达阿拉伯、非洲东海岸。中国与这些国家建立了外交关系，增加了中国商人与当地的贸易来往。
2.《马可·波罗游记》与丝绸之路
马可·波罗(1254—1324)是一位意大利商人、探险家。他属于第一批经过丝绸之路来到中国的西方人。马可·波罗一行于1271年离开威尼斯，在中国度过了17年，1290年底或1291年初离开中国，1292年回到意大利。
回到意大利后，他完成了著名的《马可·波罗游记》，记录了他的所见所闻。这本书至今还是研究中国历史尤其是元代历史的权威文献之一。马可·波罗从克里米亚出发，经过丝绸之路，来到中国，对沿途各地的风俗、习惯、服装、语言、礼仪，到它们如何受东方帝国的影响等都做了详细的记录。1275年，大约在蒙古铁骑征服欧洲30年之后，马可·波罗一行来到大都。尽管成吉思汗试图通过武力把世界统一纳入草原民族，但是这并没有给欧洲人留下任何有价值的东西，只有可怕的记忆。可见武力的征服远没有文化的影响厉害。令马可·波罗感到惊讶的是，即使是在元朝时期，西方仍然保留着东方几百年前的文明。尽管唐朝灭亡了近五六百年，但是，通过丝绸之路，它对世界的影响、它的良好声誉在中亚、西亚、欧洲仍在延续。
Exercises
Section A Thought-provoking questions
1．What is“the Silk Road”？
2．Besides the silk，what else were introduced to Xiyu(ancient Xinjiang)，India and Europe？
3．When was the greatest years in the history of the Silk Road？Why？
4．In the Tang Dynasty，why was Chang'an the most cosmopolitan cities of the time？
5．Why did the Silk Road come to decline in the Ming and Qing dynasties？
Section B Decide whether the following statements are true or false
1．The Silk Road was a general name for the ancient strategic transportation channel which started from China and passed through Central Asia，West Asia，Africa and Europe．
2．The Silk Road took in both land and water routes．
3．The Silk Road was also a route through which the pilgrims did their missionary work．
4．Silk products were the only commodities that were traded to the West．
5．In the Tang Dynasty，Chang'an was the most cosmopolitan cities of the time．
6．The purpose of building forts and defensive walls along part of the route was to prevent the Xiongnu from harming the trade．
7．Buddhism in China is effectively derived from the Gandhara culture by the bend in the Indus River，rather than directly from India．
8．The building of monasteries and grottos got support from the wealthy merchants．
9．The isolationist policies that the Ming and Qing dynasties carried on were one of the causesthat the Silk Road came to decline．
10．The Chinese seafarer Zhang He led his fleet as far as to Europe．
※The Master said，“At fifteen I set my hear tupon learning.At thirty，I planted my feet firm upon the ground.At forty，I no longer suffered from perplexities.At fifty，I knew what were the biddings of Heaven.At sixty，I heard them with docile ear.At seventy，I could fol low the dictates of my own hear t;for what I desired no longer overstepped the boundaries of right.”
From Analects of Confucius
(子曰:“吾十有五而志于学，三十而立，四十而不惑，五十而知天命，六十而耳顺，七十而从心所欲，不逾矩。”)
——《论语》
※A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
From Laozi:Dao De Jing
(千里之行始于足下。)
——老子·《道德经》