Silk Road DBQ

The Silk Road is a touchstone for world history. It was a rich trans-
regional vehicle for the transmission of art, religion, science and
disease that also affords a glimpse into the politics and economic
systems of the pre-modern world.

The Silk Road in World History

(Suggested writing time – 40 minutes)
You should spend at least 10 minutes reading, analyzing, and
grouping the sources.

Directions: The following question is based on the accompanying

Documents 1-6. (The documents have been edited for the
purpose of this exercise.) Write your answer on the lined pages of
the Section II free-response booklet.
This question is designed to test your ability to work with and
understand historical documents.
Write an essay that:
 Has a relevant thesis and supports that thesis with evidence
from the documents.
 Uses all of the documents.
 Analyzes the documents by grouping them in as many
appropriate ways as possible. Does not simply summarize
the documents individually.
 Takes into account the sources of the documents and
analyzes the authors’ points of view.
 Identifies and explains the need for at least one additional
type of document.
You may refer to relevant historical information not mentioned in
the documents.

1. To what extent did the Silk Road create an

interconnected network? Identify an additional type
of document and explain how it would help your
analysis of the Silk Road in creating interconnected
network from the 2nd century C.E. to the 13th century?
 Document 1
Source: Roman historian, Cassius Dio, 164 - 224 C.E.,
commented on a celebration the Roman emperor, Julius Caesar,
staged in his own honor around 50 B.C.E.
If I mention one feature of his [Caesar's] extravagance at that
time, I shall thereby give an idea of all the rest. In order that the
sun might not annoy any of the spectators, he had curtains
stretched over them made of silk, according to some accounts.
Now this fabric is a device of barbarian luxury, and has come
down from them even to us to gratify the fastidious taste of fine
ladies.

Document 2
Source: Sima Qian, The Records of the Grand Historian, about
Zhang Qian, a diplomat who traveled to the court of the Yuezhi
for the Han Emperor Wudi, 1st century B.C.E.
Zhang Qian was the first person to bring back a clear account of
the Dayuan [present day Krygystan and Uzbekistan].
Anzi [Parthian Persia] is situated several thousand li [a little
more than a third of a mile] west of the region of the Great
Yuezhi. The people are settled on the land, cultivating the fields
and growing rice and wheat. They also make wine out of grapes.
....

Document 3
Source: Anonymous assistant to a Chinese merchant, A Record
of Musings On the Eastern Capital, about Hangzhou, capital of
the Southern Sung Dynasty, 1235.
During the morning hours, markets extend from Tranquility Gate
of the palace all the way to the north and south sides of the New
Boulevard. Here we find pearl, jade, talismans, exotic plants and
fruits, seasonal catches from the sea, wild game -- all the rarities
of the world seem to be gathered here.
Some of the hustlers are students who failed to achieve any
literary distinction. Though able to read and write, and play
musical instruments and chess, they are not highly skilled in any
art. They end up being a kind of guide for young men from
wealthy families, accompanying them in their pleasure-seeking
activities.

Document 4
Source: Faxian, A Chinese Buddhist Monk's Travels in India and
Ceylon, 399 - 411 C.E.
From this place [Central Asia], we traveled southeast, passing
by a succession of very many monasteries, with a multitude of
monks .... When stranger monks arrive at any monastery, the
old residents meet and receive them ....

Document 5
Source: Friar John of Monte Corvino, Letter to the West, one of
two letters written to his fellow Franciscans around 1295. John
was sent by Pope Nicolas IV to try to make an alliance with the
Mongols against the Mamluk rulers of Egypt.
I, Friar John of Monte Corvino, of the Order of Friars Minor,
departed from Tauris, a city of the Persians, in the year of the
Lord 1291, and proceeded to India. And I remained in the
country of India, wherein stands the church of St. Thomas the
Apostle, for thirteen months, ....
I proceeded on my further journey and made my way to Cathay,
the realm of the emperor of the Mongols who is called the Great
Khan. To him I presented the letter of our lord the pope, and
invited him to adopt the Catholic faith of our Lord Jesus Christ,
but he had grown too old in idolatry. However he bestows
kindnesses upon the Christians, and these two years past I am
abiding with him.

Document 6
Source: Marco Polo, The Travels of Marco Polo, a Venetian
merchant who may have worked for the Yuan dynasty, the
Mongol rulers of China, late 13 th century. This excerpt is a
description of Hangzhou, a southern city that was part of the
Yuan empire.
There are within the city ten principal squares or market places,
besides innumerable shops along the streets. .... On the nearer
bank ... stand large stone warehouses provided for merchants
who arrive from India and other parts with their goods and
effects. They are thus situated conveniently close to the market
squares. In each of these, three days in every week, from forty
to fifty thousand persons come to these markets and supply
them with every article that could be desired.
Question: To what extent did the Silk Road create an interconnected
network? Identify an additional type of document and explain how it would
help your analysis of the Silk Road in creating interconnected network from
the 2nd century C.E. to the 13th century?.

1. Reword the question to explain what your essay will be about.

You do not have to reword the “additional document” section.
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2. Write a thesis for this DBQ. Your thesis is going to be a claim

that you will verify in your essay.
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3. Fill in the blanks for each document

Document 1
Explain the meaning of this document. (Uses & Understands)
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What does this document say about the Silk Road creating an interconnected
network? (Evidence)
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Why does this author write/create this document?
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Document 2
Explain the meaning of this document. (Uses & Understands)
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What does this document say about the Silk Road creating an interconnected
network? (Evidence)
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Why does this author write/create this document?
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Document 3
Explain the meaning of this document. (Uses & Understands)
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What does this document say about the Silk Road creating an interconnected
network? (Evidence)
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Why does this author write/create this document?
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Document 4
Explain the meaning of this document. (Uses & Understands)
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What does this document say about the Silk Road creating an interconnected
network? (Evidence)
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Why does this author write/create this document?
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Document 5
Explain the meaning of this document. (Uses & Understands)
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What does this document say about the Silk Road creating an interconnected
network? (Evidence)
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Why does this author write/create this document?
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Document 6
Explain the meaning of this document. (Uses & Understands)
______________________________________________________________________________
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What does this document say about the Silk Road creating an interconnected
network? (Evidence)
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Why does this author write/create this document?
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4. List four relevant groups and explain why these documents
belong together. Groups should be based on similarities that
address the question (can only be place or date if it is relevant)

Group 1: Documents - _____________

Why do they go together?
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Group 2: Documents - _____________
Why do they go together?
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Group 3: Documents - _____________
Why do they go together?
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Group 4: Documents - _____________
Why do they go together?
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5. List three additional documents you will need to help your

understanding and why they are necessary?

Document 1: Type: _______________________________ Why?

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Document 2: Type: _______________________________ Why?
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Document 3: Type: _______________________________ Why?
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