What do you think of when you hear the Silk Road? Do you imagine caravans carrying loads of silk, Marco Polo, and boats crossing over land? The reality is that the Silk Road was a complex system of routes going over land--and rivers--through several very different places and cultures, where people not only traded silk but used it as a currency(!). The Silk Road(s) were also a highway for new ideas--in its over thousand-year life, several "fathers of" (algebra, modern medicine) grew up, studied, and wrote hundreds of books in centers near the Silk Road. We dive deep into silk's significance to the Silk Road and explore its impact on local culture and economy (And yes, we talk about Marco Polo.)  Find thorough show notes and sources here: https://tinyurl.com/23w8dsyd Do you have a question, comment, or idea for a future episode? Please email us at [email protected], or visit our website at handmadehistorypodcast.com. Happy listening!

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