Response 3

What made silk such a highly desired commodity across Eurasia?

                Silk became the symbol of the Eurasian exchange system, currency, and wealth. For instance in China and the Byzantine Empire, silk was considered a “symbol of high status.” However, the government took the upper hand prohibited all elite personals from wearing silk which made silk a high profiling item. Silk also played a huge role in the Buddhism and Christianity. The Chinese Buddhist monks would take large piles of silk into the Indian monasteries as gifts in exchange to seek religious text and relics. The Christianity world also used the silk in wall art and alter coverings as a sign of “high prestigious sign of devotion and piety. It can pretty much be summed up that silk was seen as an item of high status and in high demand to the elite world. It became a high desired commodity due to it can separate those of high honors to the regular commoners. Silk was in high demand that farmers in China started to stop their farming of crops and focuses more on producing silk. 

What was the impact of disease along the Silk Roads?

Following the riches of silk, came the many deaths during the trades. Diseases that came to view were smallpox, measles, and the bubonic plaque that attached itself to the Roman Empire and the Han Dynasty. By having all of these diseases appearing it made both empires weak and their political collapse. In exchange this brought the strengthen of the Christianity in Europe and Buddhism in China, which both religions offered consideration in the moment of massive suffering, This gave followers hope and faith that they will all get through this period of death and sickness. The Silk Road became the center of exchanging diseases from different travelers, traders, and merchants. This impacted the Silk Road because when these trades go back to their home country they have brought a disease with them that will cause an epidemic which caused a weakened defensive line. For instance the Byzantine Empire was "losing 10,000 people per day during a forty day period." This made the Byzantine weak by numbers and unable to conquer other areas such as Italy.

In what ways did China participate in the world of Eurasian  commerce and exchange, and with what outcome ?

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