The Silk Road

The routes

For centuries,the Silk Road was the most important line of communication connecting modern day Xi'an with the Middle East and Europe,today one area in particular is associated most closely with the name of the Silk Road.This area is Xinjiang in Northwest China,through which two major routes of the Silk Road passed on the northern and southern side of the Taklamakan desert.

The name

The Silk Road got its name in the 19^th century when a German geographer identified it as the route through which the Romans got their silk from China.However,silk wasn't the only thing that passed along the Silk Road;anything that had buyers was traded along the road.Goods were traded from market to market passing through many hands before they reached their final destinations.

Buddhism

The Silk Road was not just the route through which goods were carried.It was also important for the exchange of ideas.Buddhism from India entered China along the Silk Road and had a huge influence on Chinese culture.Greek art styles were popular along the Silk Road and gave Buddhist statues in Northern India classical Western faces.These styles from Northerm India were also found in Xinjiang.

The people

One of China's famous monks,Xuan Zang,followed the Silk Road in the 6^th century to collect Buddhist scriptures from India.Around 600 years later,one of Europe's famous travellers,MarcoPolo,entered China along the Silk Road.Both Xuan Zang and Marco Polo left detailed records of their journeys along the Silk Road.

The Silk Road today

Today, the Xinjiang Autonomous Region remains an international crossroad where traders from surrounding countries,and tourists from all over the world regularly meet.Trade in precious stones,food,drinks,crafts,art,and of course,silk,contimues,too.

B

Umbrellas could be one of the world's most important inventions. The first umbrella was invented over four thousand years ago. 

Umbrellas were used on sunny days at first. Chinese people were the first to use their umbrellas on rainy days. They waxed (给……打蜡) their paper umbrellas so that they could be used when it was raining. 

The word "umbrella" comes from the Latin word, umbra. It means shade (背阴). Starting in the 16th century, the umbrella became popular in the Western world, especially in northern Europe, where it often rains. At first, people thought that the umbrella was only suitable for women. 

Then a famous English traveler, Jonas Hanway (1712-1786), carried and used an umbrella in England for thirty years. Because of him, men began to use umbrellas. 

In Europe, early umbrellas were made of wood and covered with canvas (帆布). 

People used very hard wood to make umbrella handles. In 1852, Samuel Fox invented a new kind of umbrella with ribs (伞骨) made of steel. 

Samuel also started a company called English Steels Company. After that, compact collapsible (可叠) umbrellas were the next important step in umbrella production.