China's quest to spread commercially and territorially led to the creation of some of the most monumental and prominent developments of that time. Two of such developments were the Silk Road and the Great Wall of China. The Silk Road and the Great Wall of China allowed China to more frequently interact with its neighbors. Some of these interactions were beneficial while others were just the opposite.
The Silk Road
A major contributor to China expanding its network was a network of trade routes called the Silk Road which was used regularly from 130 BCE, when the Han officially opened trade with the west, to 1453 CE, when the Ottoman Empire boycotted trade with the west and closed the routes. While many different kinds of merchandise traveled along the Silk Road, the name comes from the popularity of Chinese silk with the west, especially with Rome. It is thought that the first contact between China and the west came around the year 200 BCE. Routes were located in China, India, Asia Minor, Mesopotamia, Egypt, the African continent, Greece, Rome, and Britain. The northern Mesopotamian region became China’s closest partner in trade. Italy also traded with China by exporting carpets, jewels, amber, metals, dyes, and glass. However, along with material items being traded, culture was also exchanged. Religion, technology, and language were some elements of culture that were exchanged. Buddhism was introduced into China by India through the trade routes. Even disease was passed from country to country. After a war in which the Parthians gained control of Mesopotamia, the Parthians then hen became the central "intermediaries" between China and the west. The closing of the Silk Road forced merchants to take to the sea which brought about the Age of Discovery.
A major contributor to China expanding its network was a network of trade routes called the Silk Road which was used regularly from 130 BCE, when the Han officially opened trade with the west, to 1453 CE, when the Ottoman Empire boycotted trade with the west and closed the routes. While many different kinds of merchandise traveled along the Silk Road, the name comes from the popularity of Chinese silk with the west, especially with Rome. It is thought that the first contact between China and the west came around the year 200 BCE. Routes were located in China, India, Asia Minor, Mesopotamia, Egypt, the African continent, Greece, Rome, and Britain. The northern Mesopotamian region became China’s closest partner in trade. Italy also traded with China by exporting carpets, jewels, amber, metals, dyes, and glass. However, along with material items being traded, culture was also exchanged. Religion, technology, and language were some elements of culture that were exchanged. Buddhism was introduced into China by India through the trade routes. Even disease was passed from country to country. After a war in which the Parthians gained control of Mesopotamia, the Parthians then hen became the central "intermediaries" between China and the west. The closing of the Silk Road forced merchants to take to the sea which brought about the Age of Discovery.
Interactions with Neighbors
Just like any other empire, China was also always looking to expand. Through conquest, China's culture influenced northern parts of Vietnam. China also tried to force culture and Confucianism onto northeastern Korea. There were many nomadic tribes, however, who fought with all of their might against China who tried to encroach upon their space. The Han Dynasty of China experienced many attacks by the nomadic tribes of the Xiongnu on their northern and western borders, so, in 138 BCE, Emperor Wu sent his emissary Zhang Qian to the west to negotiate with the Yuezhi people for help in defeating the Xiongnu. Zhang Qian’s journey allowed for further contact between China and the west and organized and efficient horse breeding program throughout the land in order to equip a cavalry. After building the Great Wall (map and image shown below) of China to defend themselves against the nomads and to create trading opportunities, these horses became increasingly more important because it allowed China to wage periodic military campaigns against nomadic tribes, especially those that got past the Great Wall to set up "Barbarian States" in North China. These "Barbarian States" were part of China that were conquered by the nomads. Eventually, however, these invading rulers would also soon become Chinese in regards to their excepting the traditional dress and style of the Chinese.
Just like any other empire, China was also always looking to expand. Through conquest, China's culture influenced northern parts of Vietnam. China also tried to force culture and Confucianism onto northeastern Korea. There were many nomadic tribes, however, who fought with all of their might against China who tried to encroach upon their space. The Han Dynasty of China experienced many attacks by the nomadic tribes of the Xiongnu on their northern and western borders, so, in 138 BCE, Emperor Wu sent his emissary Zhang Qian to the west to negotiate with the Yuezhi people for help in defeating the Xiongnu. Zhang Qian’s journey allowed for further contact between China and the west and organized and efficient horse breeding program throughout the land in order to equip a cavalry. After building the Great Wall (map and image shown below) of China to defend themselves against the nomads and to create trading opportunities, these horses became increasingly more important because it allowed China to wage periodic military campaigns against nomadic tribes, especially those that got past the Great Wall to set up "Barbarian States" in North China. These "Barbarian States" were part of China that were conquered by the nomads. Eventually, however, these invading rulers would also soon become Chinese in regards to their excepting the traditional dress and style of the Chinese.