Is there any accurate map for the Silk Route and is it still practicable?
I've found some maps that shows the overland route that was used to trade between Europe and Asia, but I haven't found a map accurate enough to plan a trip following the ancient route.
Also, I believe this route is still practicable. For instance, the Wikipedia states:
In recent years, both the maritime and overland Silk Routes are again being used, often closely following the ancient routes
but has no link to the source or to a detailed map.
The question is: Is there any accurate map or description that allows one to draw up a plan to make a trip following the Silk Route?
Best Answer
Jim Rogers, the so-called Investment Biker (and author of the book of the same name), seemed to think that the Silk Road was navigable.
He didn't seem sure as to exactly where it was, but took his (former) girlfriend over (a known) part of it on a motorcycle, then they headed north to harsher points north and east in Siberia. My guess is that if someone provided him with a good map, he (or somewhat like him) could follow it.
Pictures about "Is there any accurate map for the Silk Route and is it still practicable?"
Does the Silk Road route still exist?
Part of the Silk Road still exists, in the form of a paved highway connecting Pakistan and the Uygur Autonomous Region of Xinjiang, China.Where is Silk Route now?
The Silk Route in East Sikkim that is open for the tourists to explore is actually a part of the ancient Silk Road. The Ancient Silk Road was actually a huge network of ancient trade routes that stretched from Asia to the Mediterranean traversing China, India, Persia, Arabia, Egypt, Greece and Italy.Why was the Silk Route closed?
The discovery of a sea route from Europe to Asia in the late 15th century dealt a damaging blow to the Silk Road trade again. With less cost, harassment and danger, many goods and materials that the Silk Road could not transfer were conveyed through the sea route.What replaced the Silk Road trade route?
As Europe came to dominate trade in the nineteenth century, the traditional form of Silk Road trade was replaced by new methods and technologies, transforming international commerce from east to west.Silk Road Summit: What is China's 'new Silk Road' project?
More answers regarding is there any accurate map for the Silk Route and is it still practicable?
Answer 2
As Mark Mayo points out, there is no one Silk Road. There were plenty, not even taking into account different routes from city to city.
Moving from east to west, or vice versa, there are plenty of cities that could be visited, though visiting some would make it highly impractical to visit others. For example, some travelers would go north of the Caspian, some would go south. And with different cities and regions providing different specialties, sometimes it would make sense to visit the one, not the other.
So, one could argue that if you travel from south eastern Europe to anywhere between Ulaan Baatar and Hong Kong, overland, you'd be sticking to (some version of) the ancient Silk Road.
Sure, some routes were more popular than others. If you want to stick to the, historically, more beaten path, you'd probably be roughly traveling through, or close to, ...
- Istanbul (Turkey)
- Tbilisi (Georgia)
- Rasht (Iran)
- Mashhad (Iran)
- Samarkand (Uzbekistan)
- Dushanbe (Tajikistan)
- Hotan (China)
- Beijing (China)
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Andrea Piacquadio, Andrea Piacquadio, Mihis Alex, Andrea Piacquadio