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Encyclopedia of world history (facts on file library of world history) 7 volume set ( PDFDrive ) 465

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Sima Qian frontier) on to Tashkent and Bukhara in Central Asia, where one branch split southeastward across Afghanistan to the Indian subcontinent and another westward through Merv in Iran (ancient Parthia) to Baghdad in Iraq, Antioch or Tyre on the eastern Mediterranean coast, thence by sea to Rome For much of the journey merchants were protected by the power of China and Rome under the Pax Sinica and Pax Romana States and cities along the way benefited from charging of taxes and dues When they became too burdensome, as happened with the Iranians, the trading countries sought to open new routes Thus, in the first century c.e a sea route was opened that linked the southern Chinese port Guangzhou (Canton), across the Strait of Malacca and Bay of Bengal to India, then through the Persian Gulf or Red Sea to the Roman East to the Mediterranean After the fall of the Han dynasty and the Western Roman Empire, the Tang (T’ang) dynasty in China and the Byzantine Empire continued the trading relations In addition to silk, other textiles, metals, gems, glass, horses, and spices were important items of trade The road was also important for introducing new crops and food items across cultures and for exchange of technological innovations, for example, ground glass lenses from India and paper from China Finally, it was the route of missionaries and pilgrims that brought Buddhism from India to Central Asia and China and, less important, Nestorian Christianity, Judaism, and Manichaeanism from the Roman East and Iran to East Asia Marco Polo from Venice traveled via the Silk Road to China in the late 13th century, bringing tales of the fabled East to Europe The Silk Road was finally eclipsed when Europeans discovered a sea route to Asia via Africa after 1498 See also Han Wudi (Han Wu-ti); Zhang Qian (Chang Ch’ien) Further reading: Franck, Irene M., and David M Brownstone The Silk Road: A History New York: Facts On File, 1986; Vollmer, John E., et al Silk Roads, China Ships: An Exhibition of East-West Trade Toronto, Canada: Royal Ontario Museum, 1983 Jiu-Hwa Lo Upshur Sima Qian (Ssu-ma Ch’ien) (145–87 b.c.e.) Chinese historian The prestige of history as a field worthy of study and historical writing as an honored pursuit were strongly rooted in Chinese intellectual life from earliest antiquity The 429 Han dynasty had the distinction of producing the earliest and most important major historical work It is titled the Shiji (Shih-chi), or Records of the Historian It was the work of two men, Sima Dan (Ssu-ma T’an), who died in 110 b.c.e., and his more famous son, Sima Qian (145–87 b.c.e.) The monumental work totaled 130 chapters and more than half a million words The father-and-son team successively held the title Lord Grand Astrologer in the Han government The title suggests that in antiquity the role of historian was closely associated with astronomical affairs and divination With their deep knowledge historians were also accepted from antiquity as mentors and teachers of rulers Such ideals were endorsed and encouraged by Confucius and Confucians who held a deep sense of history and honored memories of the past Confucians believed that to understand humanity, one had to study history Two of the five Confucian Classics, the Book of History (Shujing) and the Annals of Spring and Autumn (Qungiu), are works of history Sima Dan began a project to write a complete history of the world, as the Chinese knew it, from the beginning down to his own time Although the feudal states during the preimperial period had kept their historical records, the unification of China by the Qin (Ch’in) dynasty and the following Han dynasty required a national history Sima Dan’s position gave him access to government archives, but he died long before he could complete the task According to Sima Qian, his father: “Grasped my hand [when on his death bed] and said weeping: ‘Our ancestors were Grand Historians for the house of Chou Will this tradition end with me? If you in turn become Grand Historian, you must continue the work of our ancestors Now filial piety begins with the serving of your parents; next you must serve your sovereign; and finally you must make something of yourself, that your name may go down through the ages to the glory of your father and mother Now the House of Han has arisen and all the world is united under one rule I have been Grand Historian, and yet I have failed to make a record of all the enlightened rulers and wise lords, the faithful ministers and gentlemen who were ready to die for duty I am fearful that the historical materials will be neglected and lost You must remember and think of this!’ ” Sima Qian received an excellent education He traveled widely throughout China and knew of local traditions and men who had participated in the great events of the day He carried on his father’s legacy, completing his monumental work, especially considering the tragic circumstances in his later life He had taken the unpopular stand of defending a general who had surrendered to the nomads called Xiongnu (Hsiung-nu) for which he was

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