This course introduces the history of both the land and the maritime routes of silk road to students and trains the students to develop their analytical skills to examine Chinese history from a cross-cultural perspective. This course puts the formation and development of the silk road in the context of China’s contact with the outside world. It covers ancient to modern periods and geographically covers East Asia, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Europe. Students will analyze textual sources and virtual materials related to the silk road in this course. This course will help students gain a comprehensive and deep understanding of the silk road history and the commercial, cultural, and religious exchanges between China and other countries. In addition to historical knowledge, it will also introduce multiple theories and research methodologies to students, aiming to enhance the students’ ability to conduct independent research in this field.

Continuous Assessment: 100%