Silk Road

Which of the following best describes the Silk Road?

• a single road that extended across Asia

• a route that connected western Europe to eastern Europe

• a route that was used to bring silk from Rome to China

• a network of trade routes that extended across Asia

The western end of the Silk Road connected to the

• Atlantic Ocean

• Mediterranean Sea

• Pacific Ocean

• Indian Ocean

The Silk Road was important because

• it helped the Han empire control the Mediterranean region

• it extended a thousand miles across Asia

• it linked Asian and western cultures for more a thousand years

• it connected the Han and Egyptian empires

Which of these is an example of an idea spread by the Silk Road?

• silkworms

• glassware

• Buddhism

• spices

Chinese explorer Zhang Qian is known as the Father of the Silk Road because

• he helped the Chinese form an alliance against their northern enemy, the Huns.

• he was the first person to introduce grapes to China

• he opened the way for trade between China and its western neighbors

• he led teams of peasants who worked to build the Silk Road

In ancient times, silk was a valuable good for China to trade because

• the journey eastward to obtain it was dangerous

• it wore out quickly and had to be replaced

• only the Chinese knew how to make it.

• it could be made into colorful silk banners.

Silk is a fiber that comes from

• silk plants

• silkworm cocoons

• silk leaves

• all of the above

The Great Wall of China lay to the north of part of the Eastern Silk Road. How did the Great Wall affect travelers on the Silk Road?

• Travelers had to climb over the Great Wall to continue their journey.

• Travelers walked on the Great Wall to continue their journey.

• The Great Wall prevented travelers from continuing their journey.

• The Great Wall gave protection against bandits from the north.

Which of the following would most likely have been the greatest danger to traders crossing the Taklimakan Desert?

• sandstorms

• camels

• floods

• oases

What was the main reason why traders crossed the desert traveling in caravans?

• to make it easier to carry heavy goods

• to make it safer to travel

• to have more people to hunt camels

• to have more people to look for water