Page 74 - SST Class 06

people living along the way or the trade route
often demanded payments for allowing the
1. Can you think of a reason as to why Gautami-
putra Satkarni wanted to gain control over the traders to pass through that area.
coasts? Some kings, through whose kingdom the silk
2. In which part of India did Satavahanas become route passed, tried to control large porticoes of
powerful? the route for the simple reason that they would
benefit from the taxes paid by the traders, the
THE STORY OF THE SILK ROUTE
tributes and also gifts that were brought by the
The Silk Route traders, travelling along the route. In return, these
Silk has very fine quality and luster. Due to this, kings protected the traders who passed through
silk has always been taken as premium fabric. their kingdoms from attacks by robbers.
Silk was first discovered in ancient China about
7000 years ago. But, the process of making silk
was kept as a closely guarded secret by the
Chinese. However, silk cloths were sent to
faraway lands as gift for rich merchants and
kings. Silk was also carried by traders to be sold
in different countries. Silk always attracted
premium price.

King’s Wearing Silk Clothes
The silk traders had to cross a difficult route
which went through rough mountains and
narrow passes. There was always the threat of
attacks from robbers on these routes. The ancient
routes through which the silk traders travelled is
called the Silk Route. The land route passed
through the Himalayas and the Hindukush. The
Silk Clothes
At that time, gifts of silk were sent by the Chinese sea route passed through the Arabian Sea and
the Bay of Bengal.
rulers to their counterparts in Iran and west Asia
The Kushanas were amongst the best known
from where the popularity of silk further spread
rulers who controlled the Silk Route who ruled
to the west. Nearly 2,000 years ago, silk seemed
over central Asia and north-west India, around
to be the most wanted amongst the rich people
2,000 years ago. Peshawar and Mathura were
and rulers of Rome. The traders travelled
the two major centres of power and Taxila was
through dangerous stretches of land, mountains
also included in these kingdoms. It was during
and deserts starting from China to reach their
their rule that a change took place and the silk
destination. By the time they came to sell the silk,
route was extended from central Asia down to
it became quite costly because of the extra
the seaports upto the mouth of river Indus, from
expenses incurred by them on the way, because
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