Geography of the silk roads

GEOGRAPHY OF THE SILK ROADS

Describe the geography of the Silk Roads?

Not really a road, but a network of trade routes•Straight line distance: (2,702 mi) •Highest Altitude: Khunjareb Pass (15,397 ft)

Length of USA is about 3,000 mi

Taklimakan Desert

• What was the geography of Central Asia like?

Karakoram Pass“Trail of Bones”

Syrian Desert

Merv

Petra, Jordan

Tian Shan Mountains,Kyrgyzstan

Eurasian Steppe

Hindu KushAfghanista

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Sandstorm

Based on this geography, what would be necessary in order to take goods from Xi’an to Constantinople/Rome?

What types of goods? Why?

CARAVANSERAIThese “inns” provided more benefits than simply a place to eat, drink and rest. What other purposes did they provide? Hint: how are they constructed?Who built these and why?What do you think the atmosphere was like at these places?