Dbq Silk Road Analysis

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At over 4,000 miles long, and stretching from Chang’an, China to Rome, Italy the Silk Road was a emissary of cultural diffusion; the spread of goods, innovation, language, religion, culture, etc. around the globe. The Silk Road offered a chance for the many unique languages, foods and goods, and religions unique to specific areas and people to be spread. Cultural diffusion provided by the Silk Road can easily be seen in the languages, culinary and commercial products, and religions spread and integrated throughout Eurasia and Africa.
Initially, cultural diffusion can easily be seen through the languages spread from many different areas. Throughout its long path the Silk Road stretches from Italy to China, along this route stretching through enough areas that, at the time, one would need to speak at least three to six different languages in order to be able to communicate with everyone with whom they met. (Doc A). Evidence of this can be seen in what remains of the Dunhuang Caves, which was in the middle of the deserts along the
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Religions, especially Buddhism, Confucianism and Islam, were spread along and through the Silk Road. Examples can be seen in the Dunhuang caves along one of the main route of the Silk Road. The walls of the cave are covered with thousands of mini Buddha’s in addition to Hindu gods and flowers, Chinese prayers and poems have also been found within the cave. (Doc B) Trades such as a book of Confucian lessons for a book of Buddhist prayers can be seen in examples of trades made on the Silk Road as well. The Silk Road provided a stable route and residential places for both Muslim missionaries and Buddhist priests and nuns. (Doc C,F) As people traveled throughout the Silk Road they spread and traded their religious ideas everywhere they went; culturally diffusing their religion and beliefs to a greater population of different