The Silk Roads: Changing Perspectives: Silk as currency

The transcript discusses the historical use of silk as a currency, particularly in nomadic communities and the Han dynasty. Silk was a stable currency in regions with fragmented political power, facilitating trade and tribute exchanges. It was used for taxes and military payments within the Han dynasty. Documents from the Tarim Basin reveal the sophisticated valuation of silk, with exchange rates for coins and other goods. Silk was also used in individual and community-level trades, with established prices for various goods. Disputes over silk payments were often resolved by Chinese merchants.

What role did silk play in the trade between nomadic communities and the Han dynasty?

In what ways did silk serve as a stable currency compared to the fragmented currencies of the time?

How did the Han dynasty's tribute system influence the demand for silk?

How did the perception of Chinese wealth affect the silk trade with nomadic communities?

What evidence is there of silk being used in everyday transactions within the Oasis communities?