c. 130 BCEReputable sourceWell documented
The Opening of the Silk Road
On the timeline · around c. 130 BCE ·
What happened
The Chinese Han emperor sent an envoy, Zhang Qian, west to seek allies against nomadic enemies. He returned after years of travel and captivity with reports of rich and unknown civilizations far to the west. His journeys opened regular contact and trade between China and Central Asia, giving birth to the network of routes later called the Silk Road.
Why it matters
Zhang Qian's mission linked the great civilizations of East and West for the first time, launching over 1,500 years of exchange of goods, ideas, religions, and technologies across Eurasia.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Silk Road · Reputable source