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CARVING THE PATHS OF THE SILK ROAD
Written By Leanne Hooper: Executive Time Traveler

        
                    The Silk Road was first dicoverd during the Han Dynasty. In 139 A.D.,a man named Zhang Qian was on a mission to create a military alliance with Da Yuezhi against the Huns. But ironically, Qian was captured by the Huns along the way and was held captive. After ten years of being held by the Huns, Zhang Qian finally escaped (Silk Road in Western Han Dynasty). He traveled west and eventually made it to Da Yuezhi. But when Qian arrived, the people turned down Qian's offer for alliance.

                    Zhang Qian decided to return to Chang'an, the capital of the Han Dynasty, after one year. On his travels, he tried his best to avoid the area controlled by the Huns by going on the outskirts of different civilizations. Unfortunately, Qian was again captured by the Huns, but he was only held captive for one year (Silk Road in Western Han Dynasty).

                    Zhang Qian was finally able to make it back to Chang'an. Emperor Wudi was quite interested in the information that Zhang brought back. He sent Zhang Qian on yet another journey to ally with Wusun, but Wusun did not have any interest in fighting against the Huns.

                   Quian then sent people into other states. By doing this, Zhang left traces in many other parts of the world including Southwest and Central Asia, and even as far as the Roman Empire. Zhang therefore became famous for pioneering the what is known as the Silk Road.