Silk Road

[edit] Silk Road

As early as 200 BC, the Silk Road provided a passage way for riches and ideas between Asia and Europe. Transporting goods over 11,000 km was extremely expensive, so only the highest quality goods were carried. Gold, silver and gems went east from Istanbul in exchange for the coveted silk of China. Few travelers traversed the entire route; sometimes local carriers would transport goods only to the next oasis or village.

The road branches in many different directions because of high mountain ranges and wind-swept deserts. People traveled where their valued cargo brought the greatest reward. In the 13th century, Marco Polo made the road famous, traveling most of its length. Mongol warriors swept into Central Asia and down into parts of Turkey. The Russian czars pushed their borders south to tax the Silk Road.

Today this road between Europe and China crosses territories like Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Home to many different Muslim ethnic groups, such as the Azeris, Chechen, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Ossetians, Tajiks, Turkmen, Uighurs and Uzbeks, Central Asia is a diverse region. The peoples of these independent states are hungry for spiritual things, but know little or nothing about the Lord Jesus.

For many, the countries along the Silk Road are simply a blank on the map. Names like Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan are unfamiliar and strange, and the peoples they represent are often veiled behind misinformation and negative press. With an eye toward understanding what God is doing today along this ancient trade route, photographers and writers traveled from Kashgar, China, to Istanbul, Turkey gathering images and stories that highlight the peoples of Central Asia and their rich cultures. The result is a beautiful collection of more than 200 color photographs and accompanying stories that reflect the humanity, hunger and hope of the peoples living along the Silk Road. Along the Silk Road: Stories, Reflections and Photography is a beautiful looking book from the IMB. Also has a workbook.(172-pages, full-color).