ASIA 2209: Cultures Along the Silk Road

3 Credit Hours

This course guides students on a journey along the historic Silk Road, exploring cultures from Asia to Europe. Students examine how art, artifacts, and cultural products reflect values, practices, and perspectives of various societies. Engaging with these cultural intersections, they develop a deeper understanding of cross-cultural interactions and enhance their cultural competency.

Course Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

Describe the significance of the Silk Road as a network of trade routes connecting East and West.
Identify key regions and cities along the Silk Road and their contributions to cross-cultural exchange and development of languages.
Analyze primary sources, such as Marco Polo’s travelogue and Ibn Battuta’s accounts, to understand the cultural interactions along the Silk Road.
Investigate the spread of religious and philosophical ideas along the Silk Road.
Analyze the impact of Silk Road trade on artistic, literary and architectural developments in various regions.
Analyze the role of Silk Road trade in fostering cosmopolitanism and multiculturalism in Silk Road cities such as Chang’an.
Evaluate the opportunities and challenges posed by the New Silk Road Initiative for global connectivity and cooperation.