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The Roman Empire and the Silk Routes: The Ancient World Economy and the Empires of Parthia, Central Asia and Han China Hardcover – November 4, 2016

by Raoul McLaughlin (Author)

4.2 638 ratings

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This book demonstrates the importance of Far Eastern trade to the Roman economy and Rome's place in the ancient world economy all along the Silk Road Routes.

The Roman Empire and the Silk Routes investigates the trade routes between Rome and the powerful empires of inner Asia, including the Parthian regime which ruled ancient Persia (Iran). It explores Roman dealings with the Kushan Empire which seized power in Bactria (Afghanistan) and laid claim to the Indus Kingdoms. Further chapters examine the development of Palmyra as a leading caravan city on the edge of Roman Syria and consider trade ventures through the Tarim territories that led Roman merchants to Han China.

The Han Empire of ancient China matched that of Rome in scale and possessed military technology surpassing that of Roman legions. The Han established a system of Central Asian trade routes known as the Silk Road that carried eastern products as far as Persia and the frontiers of the Roman Empire.

This is the first book to address these subjects in a single comprehensive study. It explores Rome's impact on the ancient world economy and reveals what the Chinese and Romans knew about their rival Empires.

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About the Author

Raoul McLaughlin was educated at Lagan College, the first Integrated School in Northern Ireland. He studied Archaeology and Ancient History at Queens University Belfast before completing a Masters degree and then a PhD in the study of trade beyond Romes eastern frontiers. He lives in Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pen and Sword History (November 4, 2016)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1473833744
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1473833746
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.4 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 1.25 x 9.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,764,066 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #4,427 in Ancient Roman History (Books)
- #5,153 in Chinese History (Books)
- #35,030 in Economics (Books)

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4.2 638 ratings

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4.2 out of 5

638 global ratings

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Gerald A Hensley

detailed coherent and readable

Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2023

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Complex periods covered elegantly
Insightful comparison of Roman vs Han revenue and expenditure
Good anecdotes about the fumbling lack of connection between Han and Roman

One person found this helpful

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CoudeCasse

Expanded my vision of old world interconnection

Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2019

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Most of my learning about the Roman Empire was concerned with their wars of conquest in Europe (oh, and that little episode with Cleopatra and Egypt), but this shows how Rome and China and India had a mutual fascination and economic links over hundreds of years. Very interesting how China's foreign policy (largely making neighbors economically dependent on China, rather than conquering them) continues to resonate today. And quite fascinating that Rome wanted silk from China and high quality steel from India, goods that required skill to manufacture but used cheap raw materials. And in exchange for these, Rome sent gold, which got harder and harder to acquire.

21 people found this helpful

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Darryl Burling

Lots of detail needing more structure

Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2019

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There are many great history books written, but while the history in this book is rich, this is not one that will keep you reading. There is a lot of detail that could be woven with more artistry, in fact it demands masterful weaving. This is a great resource for detail, but you'll need to work hard to mine for it.

27 people found this helpful

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Timothy Paul Young

One of my Favorite Non-fiction books I have ever read.

Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2023

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If you are interested in the Roman Empire, but have not really looked at the economic or cultural side this is a must read. The author's other book is also quite good, but I read this one first and it has a special place in my heart. The author's treatment of historical and biblical sources made me especially like his work and I highly recommend this for almost any reader of non-fiction history.

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Lawrence B. Gratt

Silk Road History Unmasked!

Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2021

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This book has significant histories of China and Rome connections through the Silk Road including the difficult histories from pre-Alexander times and onward. Difficulties were noticed from the naming conventions of strategic areas from different tribes and rulers in the areas involved. Especially helpful was the sea routes vs the land routes being clearly explained on a multi-area basis. The maps can be improved and dated. More maps and relevant coins would be appreciated. I hope the author is able to continue and expand this research.

4 people found this helpful

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JC Reader

Fascinating

Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2019

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The economic details related to international trade between China and the Roman Empire make for a fascinating story. As is usually the case by following the money trail the whole story becomes apparent. The role played by the many inhabitants of Central Asia was particularly interesting. The impact those groups had on the development of western civilization is particularly impressive. I thoroughly enjoyed the book even with the high volume of statistics but the writing style seemed rather compartmenteralized where each section of the book was not referenced to other sections where the same topic or event was discussed.

8 people found this helpful

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K.O.

Highly recommended

Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2022

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Very well written book. It's a complex story of historical trade routes between China (and generally Asia) and Mediterranean Sea basin. You'll find here a description of realations betweeen major actors (states, ethnic groups) as well as various variants of commecrial links between them.

Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2021

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Well written history maintained interest throughout well documented many facts and figures included amazing the covering such a long period of time.

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Top reviews from other countries

ware no kuni

Lots of interesting obscure info

Reviewed in Canada on October 21, 2019

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Lots of interesting and little known info in this book with interesting comparisons between ancient empires and how they interacted. A subject that should be explored more with more research. Only bad thing is that it's physical version is so expensive and had to resort to buying the kindle version.

6 people found this helpful

Mick Maye

Interesting

Reviewed in Australia on November 4, 2020

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A review of the introduction of Chinese and middle Asian trade and its ultimate effect on the Roman Empire. The various players and the rise and fall of these and the effects on trade.

One person found this helpful

Liz T

Meticulously researched and filled with fascinating details.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 19, 2017

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I’d already read this author’s book on the Indian Ocean and was looking forward to reading his research into the corresponding land-transportation trade. This work does not disappoint; it is meticulously researched and filled with fascinating details. Like many people, I’m interested in the ethnic peoples, the exotic merchandise and the religious ideas that flowed out from ancient China towards the Roman Empire and from the West and India along the ‘Silk Road’ back across Asia. Furthermore, I think there are very few scholars nowadays who doubt that distant trade provided the Roman Empire with large sums of revenue, generated by taxing the transference of ‘luxury’ goods from the East.

There isn't the usual opening chapter to explain that there was no single ‘Road’ in the usual sense; referring instead to commodities and people travelling along various ‘Routes’. By drawing on a wide range of Classical sources the author establishes evidence for extensive use of silk by all classes & genders of people in Rome and beyond. With a further comprehensive range of primary material the author traces the manufacture and trafficking of silk and other commercial merchandise across ‘thousands of miles of inhospitable terrain’.Book chapters travel westwards in the same direction as the caravans that carried various commodities, with the author pausing to register changes in geography or alterations through time in each region.

I discovered the Chinese used silk in exchange for the guarantee of peace on their frontiers and this unique material, often obtained by barter, became one of the most lucrative commodities passing from hand to hand across Asia and into the west. It seems that the original ‘routes’ were created by the Chinese, motivated by their desire for resources to achieve supremacy in warfare. Already armed with a more efficient grade of steel, the Chinese authorities also sought a superior breed of horse to equip their cavalry and deal with the Xiongnu, a warlike nation of steppe people on their northern borders. By creating a viable route to the so-called ‘Heavenly Horses’, the Chinese enhanced the infrastructure of the many small communities they passed through. Eventually, these locations could support the passage of troops, then ultimately merchant caravans.

I particularly like the human-interest stories along the routes through central Asia, with information about the peoples and significant personalities along the way. In particular, the Sogdians letters are a glimpse behind the scenes into the lives of the ordinary men and women of the time. It is hard not to be caught up in the emotional horror of the rout of Crassus’s army by the Parthians at Carthae. The last section uses information from primary sources to discuss the Huns at the height of the Eastern trade. Finally, the book returns to the human beings at the centre of all these commercial endeavours. I don’t want to be a plot-spoiler, but the last paragraph offers an extraordinary piece of evidence that verifies personal contacts between East and West. It seems was not just all the wealth of China that made the journey from Asia into the Roman Empire in the Imperial period.

If I have any criticism, it is that the book could do with more illustrations, although I gather this is a Publisher’s decision and that these are the author’s own sketches. I'm told that line drawings are preferred by archaeologists, but I personally would have liked some colour plates. I was also disappointed that the book does not contain information about the great civilizations and ruined cities of the Middle East, but according to social media, the author’s next book covers the desert oasis kingdoms and their part in distant trade from the first century CE onward. I'm definitely considering ordering the next one in advance.

12 people found this helpful

Marilyn Knowlson-Vermeulen

interesting history

Reviewed in Canada on January 2, 2023

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I enjoyed this book very much, as it connected so many points of history that I had read. Discovering the interconnected paths, was compelling!