[author ]Mutmainna Syed[/author]
Shahra e Reshum or the Silk Route is one of the most prominent places in Pakistan, which is now known as Karakorum Highway. The silk route contains a history from second century B.C. It was known as a great commerce route created from Chang’an (now Xian) in the east and completed at the Mediterranean in the west, connecting China with Roman Empire of that time. It was named Silk route because silk was the main business merchandise, which moved on this road, a well known German Geographer Ferdinand Von Richthofen named it Silk road in1877. This earliest road not only circulated goods, but also exchanged the wonderful civilizations of China, India, Persia (now Iran), Arabia, Greek and Rome.
Silk Route in Different Dynasties
Zhang Qian in the Western Han Dynasty began up this route and the routes were gradually upgraded until the Han Dynasty. This business route spent its early days and steadily rose up in this dynasty. With the formation of the Tang Dynasty, which witnessed quick increase of economy and society, this famous business route touched its most successful phase in the history. Throughout the control of Yuan Dynasty, it proficient its last successful phase.
Silk Route in Han Dynasty (206 BC–24 AD)
Since 139 BC to 129 BC, Zhang Qian arranged his journey to the Western Territories twice, initiating the world’s renowned route. Numerous effective wars in contradiction of the Huns were directed by Wei Qing & Huo Qubing (well known generals in Han Dynasty), which detached barriers beside this trade route. In 60 BC, Han Dynasty founded the outpost of the Western Territories in Wulei (now Luntai) to control this northwest region, which significantly safeguarded the commerce beside this time honored route.
Silk Route in Tang Dynasty (618–907)
Through the formation of the Tang Dynasty and numerous successes during this time, the road raised to its most prosperous phase in history. Earlier the Anshi Revolution (755–762) in the Tang Dynasty, this route witnessed its “Golden Age” of development.
The Silk Route in the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368)
Beside with the progress of the Mongolian Kingdom and the formation of the Yuan Dynasty, the route resumed its strength and became flourishing once again. It owned the last magnificent phase during this period.
In 1271, the renowned Mongolian leader Kublai Khan founded an influential Mongol Kingdom in Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) at Dadu (now Beijing). The state of the enormous kingdom was the biggest one in China’s history, which prolonged as far as Mongolia and Siberia on north, South China Sea on south, Tibet and Yunnan on Southwest, Stanovoi Range & Okhotsk on northeast, Xinjiang and Central Asia on northwest along with that West Asia and Russia were beneath the jurisdiction of this kingdom.
Famous Travelers on Silk Route:
The famous people who travelled on this silk route were:
- · Ban Chao
- · Ban Yong and Fu Jiezi
- · Marco Polo
- · Xuanzang
- · Zhang Qian
Historical Importance of Silk Route:
Numerous huge happenings occurred on this earliest route, marking the silk route historically significant. This route also contains bright gems that also make it famous. A countless number of soldiers donated their lives to defend it. These are several of the reasons the route is still a respected treasure.
The Karakorum Highway:
After a long gap of centuries, in 1966, Pakistan and China had an agreement to construct a street for mutual advantages. However, the new path does not pursue exactly the old path but the track pursues mostly the identical region so it can be said as the relive of the traditional fine thread Route.
The Karakoram Highway is the highest glossy street and one of the most stunning, attractive and scenic locations in the world. It connects China and Pakistan, across the Karakoram mountain variety, through the Khunjerab overtakes, at an elevation of 15,397 ft (4693 meter) as confirmed SRTM. Tourist attraction. Due to its high development and the difficult situation in which it was assembled, it is furthermore mentioned to as the “Eighth marvel of the World”.
It is furthermore renowned as the companionship Highway in China and was constructed by the governments of Pakistan and government of People’s Republic of china. It was accomplished in 1979. The path of the Karakoram Highway finds one of the many paths of the ancient Silk Route that is why some people use to call it shahra e Reshum.
The silk path one time attached well known discoveries, which are now lost to time, however various are still existent and Karakoram Highway offers the opportunity to visit these sites to arrest some of the illusion of vintage times as historical numbers like Alexander the Great, Marco Polo, Genghis Khan and Tamerlane were all well known with this legendary silk path. The silk Route and Karakoram main road are among the most popular routes in the world amidst epic travelers.
Karakorum Highway presents the pathway to campaign for nearly all peaks in Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir and some peaks in Xinjiang China. The district encompasses some of the world’s largest glaciers like the Baltoro Glacier. In supplement to trans-mountain exchange of goods, the Karakorum Highway brings in subsidized nourishment kernels from down country Pakistan into the district. It is the life line for the ever growing nourishment deficit of to the north Pakistan.
Pakistan also started a train shuttle service from Lahore to Karachi in the name of Karakorum Highway (Karakorum express) in the year 2002. This service will strengthen Pak China relationship more.
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