Shifting of route to silk road – Down to Earth

Shifting of route to silk road – Down to Earth

20/06/24

GS I (History) GS II (International Relations)

UPSC/PSC

Source – Down to Earth

Context : Recent study of Chinese scientists has been published in the Journal Science Bulletin stating a gradual shift of route of Silk Road  northwards due to climate change. It defines the relationship of Human environment evolution and climate change.

What is Silk Road  ?

  • A great path that connects the Atlantic seaboard of Europe with the Pacific coast of Asia.
  • Originally, the main route went through Tarim river that has now shifted northwards after the change of local climate.
  • It derived its name based on the immense silk trade established in china at easternmost end of the trade route.
  • The route passed through many important cities and big kingdoms like Samarkand, Babylon and Constantinopole.
  • The other ways in which this route was brought to use are – Transportation of goods like spices, gold, and precious stones.
  • Increase in trade throughout the years took place due to the factors like – Advances in ancient technologies, exchange of culture and lifestyle.
  • The route was chosen as the best path for geopolitical developments later on.

 

Historical Background :

  • A period of 1500 years approx directs the roots of Silk route in the history of the world.
  • Need for a route like the Silk road arose due to the newly  established contacts between Europe and China.
  • 2 cent BCE : Emperor Wu from the Chinese Han dynasty sent his diplomat Zhang Qian to the western area beyond Xinjiang to build relations with the Yuezhi and the Wusun, the enemies of Wu. He established the gradual route of Silk Road through Tarim Basin called – Tarim Basin Route
  • For the same, he came to be known as the "Father of the Silk Route".

Old Route of Tarim Basin :

  • The basin was enclosed by Tianshan, Kunlun, and Pamir mountains and within the land of the basin lies Takla Makan Desert.
  • The caravans while crossing the Tarim Basin, headed to – The Levant Region (today's Syria, Jordan, Holyland, Lebanon), Anatolia (port that loaded goods for Western Europe via Mediterranean sea).
  • Major exchanges that took place via the route were ideas, religion, goods and even sometimes some communicable diseases.
  • Cultural and economical exchanges between the contemporary  civilisations of Europe and Asia was another big contribution of this route.
  • This route was later considered difficult due to its harsh cold and dry conditions.

The New route - Junggar Basin Route :

  • Due to the extreme conditions of the Tarim Basin on the silk road, the caravans started following a different route through the north of the basin.
  • They used the northern slopes of the Tianshan Mountains (in Junggar Basin) historically called Dzungaria.
  • The new route resulted in the development of Turco-Sogdian culture sphere.
  • It played crucial role in signifying good relations and trade between Chinese dynasties and nomadic empires in central and west Asia.
  • The trade of Eurasia reached to its zenith via this route.

Main reasons behind shifting of the Silk Road :

  • Climate Change – Chironomids, commonly known as 'lake flies' are the most ample insects in the 'lake ecosystem'. They have been utilised by the researchers in a new method to reconstruct palaeotemperatures in temperate and arctic environments as their life cycle on all stages have huge impact of temperatures.

3 sites which used to be ancient cities during the heyday of the Silk Road – SHITOUCHENG (today's Tashkurgan ) ; GONGZHUBAO (Tajikistan border) ; TANGCHAODUN (Xinjiang).

  • Water scarcity – The declined meltwater and low precipitation in the Tarim Basin caused the decline of required water resources.
  • Geopolitical Factors – The rise of Tubo kingdom(Tibet) whose rising power clashed with China's Tang dynasty, resulting in the less safety and security in the Tarim Basin region.

Decline of Silk Route :

  • Rise of Ottoman empire in the present day Turkey region caused separation of Eastern and Western world that was connected earlier through the Silk Route.
  • It was in 1453 when the Ottoman empire closed off the trade with west and imposed highly unaffordable taxes on the path.
  • By this time, Europeans had become used to the goods from the East and when the Silk Road closed, merchants needed to find an alternative route for trade to meet the demand of the Western world.
  • Later, sea routes alternative to the existing routes were discovered in order to revive the flourishing relation of the West and East.

Revival of the Silk Route :

  • The strategic initiative of China – OBOR (One Belt One Road), also known as Belt and Road Initiative is an attempt by the country to revive the remaining purpose of the Silk Route.
  • Its main objective is to enhance connectivity with over 60 countries of Asia, East Africa and Europe.
  • The Geographic corridors that come under the initiative connecting East with West are –
  • China Pakistan economic corridor
  • New Eurasian Land Bridge economic corridor
  • China Indo-China Peninsula economic corridor
  •  China Mongolia Russia economic corridor
  • China Central Asia West Asia economic corridor
  • China Myanmar economic corridor