Xi’an

The Silk Road episode 1

The Silk Road episode 1

History / 2 minutes of reading / / By

The Silk Road episode 1 : Dr Sam Willis reveals how the Silk Road was the world’s first global superhighway where people with new ideas, new cultures and new religions made exchanges that shaped humanity.     In the first episode of his series tracing the story of the most famous trade route in history, Dr Sam Willis starts in Venice and explores how its Renaissance architecture and art has been shaped by the east and by thousands of exchanges along the route. From Venice Sam travels to China’s ancient capital, Xian. Here, Sam’s story takes him back in time […]

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The Story of China episode 2 - Silk Roads and China Ships

The Story of China episode 2 – Silk Roads and China Ships

History / 3 minutes of reading / / By

The Story of China episode 2 – Silk Roads and China Ships: Michael Wood tells the tale of China’s first great international age under the Tang Dynasty (618-907). From the picturesque old city of Luoyang, he travels along the Silk Road to the bazaars of central Asia and into India on the track of the Chinese monk who brought Buddhism back to China. This tale is still loved by the Chinese today and is brought to life by storytellers, films and shadow puppet plays.     Then in the backstreets and markets of Xi’an, Michael meets descendants of the traders

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The Story of China episode 1 - Ancestors

The Story of China episode 1 – Ancestors

History / 3 minutes of reading / / By

The Story of China episode 1 – Ancestors: Michael Wood explores the history of the world’s newest superpower, from its ancient past to the present day. Starting in Wuxi, Michael joins the Qin family reunion, when 300 relatives gather to worship their ancestors on Tomb Sweeping Day. ‘Like the nation, the family has been through so much,’ one says. ‘Now everyone wants to know – what are our roots?’     To answer that question, Michael journeys to the plain of the Yellow River, where he joins a million pilgrims at the shrine of ancient goddess Nüwa, who legend says

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