About the Book

This book reveals about the Silk Route which is an iconic in World History. It conjures up a hazy image of a caravan of camels laden with silk on a dusty desert track, reaching from China to Rome. The reality of its history and its revival is romantic and interesting as revealed in the book. This effort at tracing the interconnections of the diverse participants in the trans-continental Silk Route exchange demonstrates that the world had been linked through economic and ideological forces long before the modern age.

About Author

Dr. Krishan Gopal Tyagi writes frequently for academia on a gamut of the issues concerning History of India. With Doctorate from JNU his research covers the broad canvas of the Silk Route, culture, trade and religions. He presently teaches History in Ram Lal Anand College, University of Delhi, Delhi.

Contents

Foreword 

Preface 

Acknowledgements 

List of Tables 

List of Figures 

1.  The Silk Route: History-34

•   The Old Silk Route
•   Alignment of the Silk Route
•   History of Silk
•   Great Silk Route: Formation and Development
•   Silk Route under the Han Empire (206BC–200AD)
•   Silk Route during the Tang Dynasty (618 AD–907 AD) 
•   Spread of Buddhism along the Silk Route
•   Kushans and the Silk Route
•   Trade along the Silk Route
•   Markets for Silk and its Supply in Eurasia

  China

  Central Asia

  India

  Persia

  Byzantium

2.  Decline of the Silk Route-55

•   Downfall of the Tang Dynasty
•   Chaos of Five Dynasties
•   Coming of Islam in Central Asia
•   Spread of Islam in China
•   Collapse of the Mongol Empire
•   Opening of the Sea Route
•   Start of Maritime Trade through Astrakhan

3.  Independence of Central Asian Republics and the Revival of Silk Route 

•   Central Asian Economies

  Kazakhistan

  Kyrgyzstan

  Uzbekistan

  Tajikistan

  Turkmenistan

•   Revival of the Silk Route in Independent Central Asia
•   Interests of the Central Asian Republics in the Revival of the Silk Route 

  Economic Interest

  Political Interest

•   Necessity

  Revival of the Trans-Siberian Railway

  Extension of Karakorum Highway to Silk Route

  Silk Route versus Oil Route

  Caspian Pipeline Construction Route

  Tengiz–Baku–Ceyhan Route

  Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan Route

  Kazakhstan–Turkmenistan–Iran Route

  Uzbek–Kazakh–China–Japan Pipeline

  Tengiz–Kumkol–Pavlodar–Chimkent Pipeline

  The Eurasian Corridor

•   Problems and Prospects of the Restoration of OldSilk Route 

  Problems

  Prospects

4.  Role of External Powers in Silk Route Revival-134

•   Role of China
•   Russia’s Role
•   Interests of Japan
•   Role of Iran
•   Role of Turkey
•   Role of Pakistan

  Karakorum Highway as a Branch of New Silk Route 

  Construction of Gwadar Port

•   EU’s Policy and Action for New Silk Route
•   Role of the USA in the Revival of Silk Route
•   World Bank and UNESCO Support

5.  Eurasian Land Bridge and Its Implications-162

•   A Factor of Promotion in Relationship
•   Destroying the Drug Route
•   Grand Design for Peace and Development
•   Promoting India–China–Russia: Tripartite Cooperation 
•   New Silk Route as a Factor in Energy Security for India and China
•   Factor in Modernization of Central Asia
•   Land Bridge for Global Trade
•   Implications of the Eurasian Land Bridge

  Present Situation: Prospects from the Trans-Siberian Railway 

  Sakhalin Rail Tunnel

  Development of the Tumen Region

  Transport Corridor Europe–Caucasus–Asia (TRACECA) Project 

  New Silk Road Initiative Between Xinjiang and Eurasia 

  North-South Corridor for International Transport 

—  The Caucasus Route

—  The Central Asian Route

—  The Caspian Sea Route

•   Reopening the Traditional Silk Route through the Nathula Pass
•   New Horizons About the Revival of the Silk Route

Annexure I: Silk Road Chronology

Bibliography

Index

Additional Info.