Terence Newbury of

NEWBURY TOYS

22 The Drive*Chingford* London*E4 7AH*England

020-85296882

welcomes you to the

THE SILK ROAD.

So named by the 19th century scholar Baron Ferdinand von Richthofen, reached its zenith in AD200 under the Roman Empire, making it the longest road on earth. In 138BC under the Emperor Han Wudi, Chang'an capital of the Han dynasty enjoyed great prosperity, though its borders were under constant threat from the Xiongnu, a tribe of warlike nomads who controlled the grasslands and deserts to the North West.

The Xiongnu had already defeated the Yuezhi, another tribe of nomads from the steppes. The Emperor called for volunteers to undertake a diplomatic mission to unite the Yuezhi and the Han against the Xiongnu. Zhang Qian, a palace attendant offered himself as envoy. He set out westwards accompanied by Kanfu, a Xiongnu slave, and more than 100 men. But they were captured and detained by the Xiongnu for more than 10 years, though Zhang Qian was given a wife by whom he had a son. He and his party finally escaped and reached Dayuan, a steppe kingdom in what are the independent republics of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan today.

The Dayuan king had learned of the Chinese empire's wealth and was eager to make contact, but first he provided guides to the territory of the Yuezhi in Northern India. The Yuezhi, however were peaceful and prosperous, with no wish to combine against the Xiongnu.

Zhang Qian was recaptured by the Xiongnu and it was not until 125BC that he, his wife and the former slave Kanfu escaped and returned to China. Though his mission had failed in its original objective, the information he conveyed to China about Central Asia, and vice-versa, created a desire in each area for goods produced in the other. Zhang Qian was made a palace counsellor, Kanfu was awarded the title of "Lord who carries out his mission".

In 119BC with 300 men and quantities of gold and silk, Zhang Qian set out on a second expedition which led to the establishment of trade between China and Persia.

Zhang Qian died in 113BC