Traveling the Silk Road had its very prominent dangers. The smoke of the incense served as a repellent for any bugs and mosquitos who were annoying and could carry disease. Carrying swirl shaped incense was common for those who took on the journey of crossing Eurasia. These were woven and secured via a strap across the chin. There are tales which mention Buddha and his followers carried fly whisks, which inclined many to carry them as a symbol of their faith. In addition, it was used as a sign of their religious beliefs. Travelers could swing it back and forth to swat away any flies or insects they encountered across their paths. This whisk was made from a small wooden stick with a bushy end made from horse tail hair. Made from hollowed out and dried calabash, these jugs were tied to the side of their owner’s belt for easy access. It was unlikely that travelers had dragons following their journey, but the symbol of a dragon was used as protection and hope for a safe return from their visits. These bags had enough space for its owners to carry several large Buddhist sutras, scripts, and other important books that travelers found essential to have a successful journey. The backpacks carried by Chinese travelers served a slightly different purpose than what a modern-day hiker’s backpack would. One of the most famous monks to travel the Silk Road, monk Xuanzang (602–664), carried many of these items during his lengthy travels. Below is a brief list of some of the basic hiking equipment it is said he may have kept with him. Travelers from China were well prepared for the conditions they may have encountered along the way and made sure to have their religious deities and protectors with them for safe travels. Traveling hundreds or thousands of miles to reach a new destination was no easy feat. One item went from being a local favorite, to a global favorite thanks to a group who lived to travel. A fruit that had only been in one place, had now travelled and been tried by someone hundreds or even thousands of miles away. Since food was also mobile and easily carried to their next location, the new fruits, vegetables, dishes, and spices could be shared with their new neighbors. Food was a necessity regardless of where they would travel to. As it has been established, these groups immersed themselves in the cultures of others, and food was one of the most important exposures and trade experiences across the roads. Whether they came from nomadic civilizations or had taken on the challenge of traveling across Eurasia own their own, they were consistently exposed to the plethora of both nomadic and sedentary cultures found on the Silk Road. Nomads were some of the most common groups of people found along the routes. Some of the groups of people responsible for these trades were nomadic groups who shared their food discoveries found across their journeys. Last week we discussed some notable foods and recipes for ancient civilizations and discovered many of their dishes were influenced by the trade of goods occurring near their area. Let us take a look at some of these pieces of history. There are very few remaining records which tell these tales, yet we still have enough information to piece together some snippets of history which took place across these routes. This safety net established a sense of security for pilgrims which allowed them to spend a portion of their time recording their experiences, interacting with other civilizations, learning folklore from other cultures, new religions, and more. Although these routes were initially turbulent and dangerous to travel, when Genghis Khan, leader of the Mongol Empire, took power over the routes in Asia, the roads flourished in trade. His army protected travelers from crime, bandits, and pirates, and encouraged the exchange of cultures. These networks allowed China to connect with the west and opened the possibility of trading everything from food, gold, religion, and technological advances with civilizations as large and as far away as the Romans. The Silk Route, more commonly known as the Silk Road, is a network of ancient trading routes spanning across Asia and Europe. From hiking across treacherous terrains to analyzing the stars that kept travelers company during long nights, the Silk Road has some truly fascinating tales. Over the last few days, I traveled across the various routes that make up the Silk Road and gathered some new information you may not be familiar with. I’ve heard you enjoyed trying the recipes I brought to you last time we talked. Greetings, fellow Age of Empires Community!
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