The Silk Route: 7,000 Miles of History

by John S. Major

Book Overview

A fascinating and accessible historical picture book about commerce, trade, and cultural exchange, perfect for classroom use and research. Silk has long been considered a symbol of wealth and luxury. But thousands of years ago, the production of silk cloth was one of China's most prized secrets. So how did silk become one of the most sought-after materials in the world With lavish illustrations and a highly informative text, The Silk Route traces the early history of the silk trade--from the mulberry groves of China to the marketplace in Byzantium--and explores how two of the world's greatest empires were brought together, forever opening the channels of commerce between East and West. A treasure through the years, this book is perfect for the classroom and independent book reports.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0064434680
• ISBN13: 9780064434683
• Release Date: March 1996
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.37 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 8.5" x 11.0"
• Age Range: 6 to 10 years
• Grade Range: Grades 1 to 5

Customer Reviews

remarkable and informative

This is a large-format book, about 9 X 12, and the pages are packed with information. Each page reflects a different culture with different customs, architectural styles, and ethnicities, moving from China east to Constantinople. The illustrations are well-drawn and offer a lot of information in their own right; the text is a wonderful look at cultural communication and long-distance travel. The reading level is not difficult, but the interest level is vast -- 2nd grade to adult.

The Silk Route

This is a truly wonderful book that helps children understand an important part of the history of China. The book has a map of the road the caravan travels, describes the major stops along the way, and explains the difficulties and hardships these travellers encountered. I especially enjoyed the description of the topography the caravan crosses, as I believe it gives children a great mental picture for them to understand the great diversity of geography in China.

Excellent Teaching Aid

This book was included in a Maryland Department of Education lesson plan for teaching the Silk Road. I purchased the book for this purpose and is correlated very well to the lesson plan. Excellent artwork. Valuable content. A good geography storybook