Why was Zhang Qian sent on a 13 year journey?

The objective of Zhang Qian’s first mission was to seek a military alliance with the Yuezhi, in modern Tajikistan. However to get to the territory of the Yuezhi he was forced to pass through land controlled by the Xiongnu who captured him (as well as Ganfu) and enslaved him for thirteen years.

What is Zhang Qian famous for?

Zhang Qian, Wade-Giles romanization Chang Ch’ien, (born, Chenggu [now in Shaanxi province], China—died 114 bce), Chinese explorer, the first man to bring back a reliable account of the lands of Central Asia to the court of China.

What was the purpose of Emperor Wudi and the Han Dynasty sending Zhang Qian to the Western Regions for the first time?

Zhang Qian’s First Expedition to the Western Regions As early as 2000 years ago, at the reign of Emperor Han Wudi, Zhang Qian was dispatched on a mission to seek an alliance with peoples in the west of China to fight against the northern tribes.

How many trips did Zhang Qian make?

A diplomat for a Ancient Empire Zhang Qian was the greatest explorer in ancient China, having made two long journeys in 139 and 115 b.c.e.He was also an important diplomat for the Han emperor Wu.

Why is it illegal to export silkworms from China?

It was Illegal to exports silk worms from China because the Chinese wanted to keep a what on silk. Monopoly. Han emperors made Salt and Iron productions monopolies because they wanted to bring what to the Han dynasty and Kings? The Emperor.

What made silk so valuable?

Silk is a fabric first produced in Neolithic China from the filaments of the cocoon of the silk worm. It became a staple source of income for small farmers and, as weaving techniques improved, the reputation of Chinese silk spread so that it became highly desired across the empires of the ancient world.

What was China’s most valuable trade good?

silk was China’s most valuable trade good because, at first, the Chinese were the only people who knew how to make it. Silk was the perfect trading good because it was light and valuable.

How was silk stolen from China?

Legend has it that two monks hid silkworm eggs inside a bamboo pole to smuggle them out of China, where they were guarded as closely as state secrets. The monks then presented the eggs to Byzantine Emperor Justinian I in Constantinople, where he created a thriving silk industry.

Who first made silk?

According to Chinese myth, sericulture and the weaving of silk cloth was invented by Lady Hsi-Ling-Shih, the wife of the mythical Yellow Emperor who is said to have ruled China in about 3,000 BC. Hsi-Ling-Shi is credited with both introducing sericulture and inventing the loom upon which silk is woven.

Why is silk so cheap now?

Silk is very expensive because of its limited availability and costly production. It takes more than 5,000 silkworms to produce just one kilogram of silk. The farming, killing, and harvesting of thousands of silkworm cocoons are resource-heavy, labor-intensive, and costly processes.

Is silk still valuable today?

There are many types of silk, but pure mulberry silk made from long fibers will be very soft and draped. While in ancient Rome Coan silk was widely used, today fabric production is limited. Silk is much more expensive due to the high production costs and high quality.

What did Rome have that China wanted?

Each had something the other wanted. Rome had gold and silver and precious gems. China had silk, tea, and spices. The Silk Road was important because not only goods were traded, ideas and culture were carried by the traders.