Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Non-Fiction 2018 | Page 15

The Silk Road: Ancient Trade system of the past
Korean International School, Kinhekar, Pratyay - 9
What is the Silk Road?
T
he Silk Road was basicly many roads connected. It was very big when you know the fact that it
takes 2 years to walk fully from China to Rome and back. It started in China and goes across Asia
and India all the way to the Mediterranean Sea.
Trade system
The Silk Road was across Africa, Asia and Europe. The items they traded were silver, gold, pots, cups etc.
China traded many of the utensils like bowls and cups while India traded the different types of spices.
Religion
Religions were a big part of the Silk Road. Many walked months and years to learn the cultures of other
nations. The monk Xuanzang came to India to learn Buddhism, Marco Polo came to learn the cultures of
all of Asia. You see, the religions which were spread by the Silk Road were Buddhism, Hinduism and even
Christianity.
Marco Polo
Marco Polo was also a famous person who also traveled on the Silk Road. Marco Polo was born in 1254
AD and died on the year 1324 AD. He was not only known for traveling the Silk Road, but also for the
book he wrote - The Travels of Marco Polo. Marco polo’s travel to Asia lasted 24 years. He traveled all
over Asia and then became a confidant of the Mongol ruler Kublai Khan. He was later captured in a battle
between Venice and the rival state of Genoa.
The Monk Xuanzang
One of the many great people who walked across the silk road was the Monk Xuanzang . Monk Xuanzang
was born on the year 602 AD and died in 644 AD. He was a Chinese Buddhist scholar. He became famous
for his 17-year travel to India in search of Buddhist books. His travel to India was retold with demons and
imaginary things as The Journey to the West by Wu Cheng’en nine hundred years after Xuanzang’s death.