TED-ED: The Silk Road: Connecting the ancient world through trade - Shannon Harris Castelo

The video explores the history of global exchange, tracing its roots to the Silk Road, a network of trade routes that connected various civilizations over 2,000 years ago. It highlights the cultural and technological exchanges facilitated by the Silk Road, including the spread of Buddhism, Islam, and gunpowder. The decline of the Silk Road due to new maritime technologies and the collapse of Mongol rule is discussed, along with its lasting impact on global trade and exploration. The video concludes by comparing historical globalization with today's interconnected world.

What was the primary function of the Silk Road?

• A single road connecting Europe and Asia

• A network of trade routes facilitating cultural and commercial exchange

• A path for religious pilgrimages

• A military route for Roman soldiers

Which civilization's road was a crucial part of the Silk Road network?

• The Roman Appian Way

• The Egyptian Pharaoh's Road

• The Persian Royal Road

• The Indian Grand Trunk Road

What was one of the significant impacts of the Silk Road on China and Rome?

• The establishment of a common currency

• The introduction of Roman democracy in China

• The spread of Buddhism to Rome

• The trade of silk to Rome and glassware to China

Which religion spread from India to China and Japan via the Silk Road?

• Buddhism

• Hinduism

• Islam

• Christianity

What technological advancement contributed to the decline of the Silk Road?

• The discovery of electricity

• The invention of the steam engine

• The development of the magnetic compass

• The creation of the printing press

What was a consequence of the Silk Road's decline?

• The rise of the Age of Exploration

• The isolation of China from the rest of the world

• The end of all trade between Europe and Asia

• The collapse of the Roman Empire

How did the Silk Road influence modern globalization?

• It established the first global currency

• It laid the groundwork for today's interconnected world

• It created the first international postal system

• It led to the discovery of America