Book Reviews

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The Silk Road: A History, by Irene Franck and David Brownstone

The life of the wandering traders of old has all but disappeared.
It has been smothered by technology. There is less need to guess the
vagaries of events when one can receive them instantly. Travel on
a freeway is safe compared to what they incurred. And the commodities
somehow aren't as romantic-Spices, and Silks of Fair Cathay and Incense of Araby,
somehow have more charisma then pork bellies. And even when you want
the more romantic type of goods you get it on FedEx which is efficient
but unimaginative. They of course would have envied us our efficiency
which shows the paradox of romance.
Their world hasn't completely disappeared. It is alive and well in
the less stable regions of the world-with trucks instead of camels.
Usually(some still have to use animals).
But now it is the footnote to globalization. Then it was the definition.
In those days the region between China and the Meditteranean World
was a vast wilderness interspersed by small cities that made their
living as outposts of the caravan networks. The route between China
and the Meditteranean is collectively known as The Silk Road, for
the commodity it is best known for which is silk. Few traders went
all the way. Rather goods were sold to one merchant who in turn carried
it as far as he was willing and sold it again.
Franck and Brownstone's book captures this wonderfully. It tells of
the life of the traders who crossed deserts and mountains and risked
the perils of nature. And the perils of man. For bandits were always
a danger as were the rulers who schemed and fought for the wealth of
this ancient artery of trade. Others crossed this way as well. Envoys,
religious pilgrims, soldiers, spies. And occasionally people came
from curiosity, or even "because it was there". But the heart of
the Silk Road was always the wandering trader, carrying his wares
from place to place. Kings would change but his life seldom did.
This book is a fascinating history and well worth the read.

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