THE SILK ROAD
|
| Tang Dynasty robe, excavated in the
Caucasus. Hermitage Museum, St. Peterburg, Russia |
This exotic name for the trade routes, or rather the trade
networks, connecting China with the Mediterranean and Mongolia
with India was only invented in the nineteenth century. However,
trade and cultural exchange has flourished along these routes
for millennia, in spite of natural barriers, such as the tallest
mountains in Asia, vast deserts, frequent earthquakes, not to
mention different languages, religions and cultures. Archaeological
excavations in China and the Middle East show us the extent
to which ideas, designs and forms were exchanged already in
the 2nd millennium BC.
On display are photographs and objects from the
Babylonian
Collection. The exhibition is free and open to the public during
regular library
hours.
STERLING MEMORIAL LIBRARY NAVE
July 1st - September 30th, 2008