ENCOUNTERSENCOUNTERSININ

CENTRAL CENTRAL ASIAASIA

MODERN CENTRAL ASIAMODERN CENTRAL ASIA

VEGETATION ZONESVEGETATION ZONES

TOPOGRAPHYTOPOGRAPHY

THE STEPPETHE STEPPE

THE STEPPE AND HUTTHE STEPPE AND HUT

THE DESERTSTHE DESERTS

THE MOUNTAINSTHE MOUNTAINS

THE OASISTHE OASIS

TIMELINETIMELINE

TO 1500 BCE: TO 1500 BCE: RISE OF PASTORAL NOMADSRISE OF PASTORAL NOMADS1500 BCE-200 BCE: 1500 BCE-200 BCE: INDO-EUROPEAN AGEINDO-EUROPEAN AGE200 BCE-1380 CE: 200 BCE-1380 CE: SILK ROAD EXCHANGESSILK ROAD EXCHANGES200 BCE-1250 CE: 200 BCE-1250 CE: XIONG-NU TO TURKSXIONG-NU TO TURKS1250 CE-1470 CE: 1250 CE-1470 CE: THE MONGOL AGETHE MONGOL AGE1470 CE-1640 CE: 1470 CE-1640 CE: THE LAST NOMADSTHE LAST NOMADS

NOMADIC ANIMALSNOMADIC ANIMALS

NOMADIC WARRIORNOMADIC WARRIOR

INDO-EUROPEANSINDO-EUROPEANS

CHARIOT PEOPLESCHARIOT PEOPLES

INDO-EUROPEANSINDO-EUROPEANSINDO-IRANIANSINDO-IRANIANSINDO-ARYANS INDO-ARYANS THE SHANG ?THE SHANG ?

CYCLE OF CIVILIZATIONCYCLE OF CIVILIZATION

1. Nomads invade, conquer sedentary civilization

2. Nomads settled down, adopt many aspects of conquered civilization.

3. New syncretic culture thrives, reaches heights.

4. Nomadic culture weakens, loses all elements of old culture, falls to new nomadic threat.

1000 - 200 B.C.E.1000 - 200 B.C.E.Later Indo-Europeans especially the Later Indo-Europeans especially the Sakas, Kushans, Bactrians, Parthians Sakas, Kushans, Bactrians, Parthians & Sassanids migrated into South and & Sassanids migrated into South and

Southwest Asian; their movements Southwest Asian; their movements blended Hellenistic, Persian, and blended Hellenistic, Persian, and

Buddhist elements in a unique Buddhist elements in a unique culture. Persians became very activeculture. Persians became very active

in Central Asian settlement and tradein Central Asian settlement and trade

PARTHIANS, PARTHIANS, KUSHANSKUSHANS

SASSANIDSSASSANIDS

HAN DYNASTYHAN DYNASTY

THE HAN, ZHANG QIAN’S THE HAN, ZHANG QIAN’S EMBASSIES, HORSES & SILKEMBASSIES, HORSES & SILK

THE SILK ROADTHE SILK ROAD

There were many Silk Roads across Central Asia beginning in China and ending on the shores of the Eastern Mediterranean.

THE SILK ROADTHE SILK ROADHan China and the Xiong-Nu Han China and the Xiong-Nu

battled for control of the Easternbattled for control of the EasternSteppe. In the process, China soughtSteppe. In the process, China soughtallies & Central Asian horses, which allies & Central Asian horses, which they exchanged for silk. The nomadicthey exchanged for silk. The nomadic

peoples exchanged the silk with peoples exchanged the silk with civilizations in Southwest Asia civilizations in Southwest Asia

and the Silk Road was born.and the Silk Road was born.

RELIGIOUS EXCHANGESRELIGIOUS EXCHANGES

SYNCRETISMSYNCRETISM

INTERCULTURAL INTERCULTURAL EXCHANGESEXCHANGES

Trade Trade

and/or Tribute?and/or Tribute?

INTERCULTURAL INTERCULTURAL EXCHANGESEXCHANGES

Art and ArchitectureArt and Architecture

THE XIONG-NUTHE XIONG-NU

XIONG-NU, HUNS,XIONG-NU, HUNS,BLACK & WHITE HUNSBLACK & WHITE HUNS

Tribute EmpireTribute EmpireConfederacyConfederacyHostagesHostagesPolitical MarriagesPolitical MarriagesAllies, MercenariesAllies, MercenariesDestroyed Rome, IndiaDestroyed Rome, IndiaInvaded Sassanid PersiaInvaded Sassanid PersiaThreatened China, GermansThreatened China, Germans

UIGHURS (TURKS)UIGHURS (TURKS)

•Manichaen and BuddhistManichaen and Buddhist•Supported merchantsSupported merchants•Developed art, literatureDeveloped art, literature•Allies, Enemies, Saviors of TangAllies, Enemies, Saviors of Tang

The branches ruled in Mongolia, The branches ruled in Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, Sinkiang; partsInner Mongolia, Sinkiang; partsmigrated into Kazakh steppes &migrated into Kazakh steppes &

river valleys called Sogdianariver valleys called Sogdiana.

TURKSTURKSININ

CENTRALCENTRALASIAASIA

ISLAM IN CENTRAL ASIAISLAM IN CENTRAL ASIAArab Nomads 600 CEMuhammad 622 CE Sasanids Overrun: 637 CEUmayyads: 7th c.Abbassids: 8th c.Battle of Talas: 751 CE

Religion & TechnologyReligion & TechnologyPaper Products!Paper Products!

TURKS IN SOUTH AND TURKS IN SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST ASIASOUTHWEST ASIA

Seljuk Turks: 9th c. Seljuk Turks invade Southwest Asia and

defeat both the Abbassids and Byzantines. Create sultanates and military states; rule

as mercenaries throughout region.

Khwarazm Empire: 12th c.

THE MONGOLSTHE MONGOLS Chinggis KhanChinggis Khan

Yuan Dynasty (China, Mongolia)Yuan Dynasty (China, Mongolia)Golden Horde (Russia, Ukraine)Golden Horde (Russia, Ukraine)Ilkhanids (Persia, Iraq)Ilkhanids (Persia, Iraq)Chagatayids (Central Asia)Chagatayids (Central Asia) Pax MongolicaPax Mongolica

EXTENT OF EXTENT OF MONGOL EMPIREMONGOL EMPIRE

EXCHANGES UNDER EXCHANGES UNDER THE MONGOLSTHE MONGOLS

Technology, Diseases, Peoples, TributeTechnology, Diseases, Peoples, Tribute

TAMERLANETAMERLANE Central Asia and Afghanistan - Central Asia and Afghanistan -

devastating raids into India, devastating raids into India, Persia, Iraq, Caucasus Mts.Persia, Iraq, Caucasus Mts.

and Turkey. Built mounds of skulls and Turkey. Built mounds of skulls following conquests and sieges.following conquests and sieges.

RELATED TOPICSRELATED TOPICS•The Pandemic called the Black DeathThe Pandemic called the Black Death•Travels of Polo, Ibn Battuta, Bar SaumaTravels of Polo, Ibn Battuta, Bar Sauma•Exchanges of TechnologiesExchanges of Technologies•The Rise, Decline, Fall of Ming (China)The Rise, Decline, Fall of Ming (China)•The Mughal Dynasty (India)The Mughal Dynasty (India)•The Safavid and Qajar Dynasties (Persia)The Safavid and Qajar Dynasties (Persia)•The Ottoman EmpireThe Ottoman Empire•The Rise of Moscovy (Russian Empire)The Rise of Moscovy (Russian Empire)

WHAT ENDED THE AGE WHAT ENDED THE AGE OF NOMADS?OF NOMADS?

FirearmsFirearmsStanding ArmiesStanding Armies

High-yield agricultureHigh-yield agricultureStrong, centralized bureaucraciesStrong, centralized bureaucracies

Pandemics devastated nomadsPandemics devastated nomadsAcculturationAcculturation

Established religionsEstablished religionsSea-borne tradeSea-borne trade

INTERNET LINKSINTERNET LINKSTHE ART OF THE SILK ROADTHE ART OF THE SILK ROAD

depts.washington.edu/uwch/silkroad/ exhibit/index.shtml

SILK ROAD ENCOUNTERSSILK ROAD ENCOUNTERSwww.askasia.org/teachers/Instructional_

Resources/FEATURES/SilkRoad/ Intro.htm