Abstract
Abstract. The ancient Silk Road played a crucial role in cultural exchange and commercial trade between western and eastern Eurasia during the historical period. However, the exchanges were interrupted in the early 16th century CE, during the Ming dynasty. Various causes for the decline of the ancient Silk Road have been suggested. Unlike social factors, natural factors have not been adequately addressed. In this study, we use evidence from a sedimentary site (Xishawo, XSW) in Dunhuang oasis, together with analysis of historical archives, to demonstrate the occurrence of extreme droughts and desertification events in the Dunhuang area post ∼ 1450 CE, which persisted at least for decades. The desertification may be closely associated with the accessibility of the ancient Silk Road in the area, which was responsible for a steep fall in the volume of trade, as well as political chaos and mass migrations. Therefore, besides socio-economic factors, climate change may have played an important role in trade exchange between the Ming government and the West and may have even influenced the rise and decline of the ancient Silk Road.
Highlights
The ancient Silk Road was the most important link between nations in Eurasia from the 2nd century BCE to the 16th century CE, and it indirectly shaped the politics, cultures and economies of populations across the Eurasian continent
In order to investigate the relationship between conflict and the closure of the Jiayuguan Pass, the frequency of agri-nomadic conflict in the Dunhuang area was estimated based on historical archives (Chinese Military History Writing Group, 2003; Yu, 2003)
We have systematically investigated a possible climatic cause of the interruption of the operation of the ancient Silk Road during the Ming Dynasty
Summary
The ancient Silk Road was the most important link between nations in Eurasia from the 2nd century BCE to the 16th century CE, and it indirectly shaped the politics, cultures and economies of populations across the Eurasian continent. The route linked commercial trade between the East and West, but it facilitated the spread of religion, technology and even diseases such as the plague (Jones et al, 2011; Chen et al, 2015; Schmid et al, 2015; Frankopan, 2015; An et al, 2017; Dong et al, 2018; Hao et al, 2020; Afzaal, 2020). Cities and towns emerged and developed in association with oases, such as Jiayuguan, Dunhuang, Hami and Ruoqiang, which functioned as logistical stations for trade between East and West along the ancient Silk Road.
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