Presented by Dr. John Randall Groves
Mixing historical facts and personal experience from during his visit to China, Dr. J. Randall Groves illuminated what scholars widely consider the largest trade route in ancient history: the Silk Road. In another installment of the Humanities Department's successful Colloquium Series, Dr. Groves delivered a presentation on February 2nd in Ferris State University's Music Center about the Silk Road's legacy and impact. In its infancy, the trans-continental trade route was simply used to transport silk, gold, and other amenities, but it soon encompassed religion, technology, and culture.
| Dunhuang Oasis | Old City of Karakhoja |
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“My main field of
research is comparative civilizations, so I was able to
recognize elements of various cultures as I encountered
them,” said Groves.
While primarily spanning China, the Silk Road
incorporated India, the Middle-East, Eastern Africa, and even
Rome into its seemingly endless network. Around mountains and
through deserts, the Silk Road was a unifying force that
ascended the heights of human engineering, mercantilism, and
organization.
Last summer, Dr. Groves spent two weeks traversing
over 7,000 miles of China. Photographs from his trip, along
with his insights into philosophy and comparative religion,
detailed the Silk Road's influences on all the nations it
connected. The inevitable transference of culture shaped the
modern beliefs of many prominent religions, including:
Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Islam, and Judaism.
“I teach both Eastern and Western Religions, and
I encountered artifacts that were from several of the
religions I teach,” added Groves.
Dr. Groves also observed how this major trading
highway created hubs of civilization during its maturation,
some of which became impressive archeological sites.
“Because of the climate in the Taklamakan
desert, many manuscripts and artworks have survived that
would not have otherwise. The first printed book, for
example, the Buddhist Diamond Sutra, was discovered in
the Library Cave at Dunhuang,” Groves stated.
Today, the road stands as one of humanity's crowning
achievements. By putting aside petty differences, countries
across Europe, the Middle-East, and Eastern Asia built a
network of roads that survived centuries and led to mutual
prosperity. While the spread of diseases, most notably
Europe's “Black Plague,” and imperialism by
foreigners were inevitable side-effects of the Silk Road's
success, its contributions to the sharing of knowledge and
goods is often regarded as a precursor to the modern
internet's potential for commerce and transference.
“The Silk Road is also important for the rethinking of the rather large issue of the rise of the West. Some have argued that the Silk Road was a key part of a worldwide economy, which is meant to counter the idea that the great civilizations of the West, China and India were largely separate economically,” concluded Groves.
| Silk Road Map |
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