The Silk Route is a collection of pathways that, together, link China to Vienna, Istanbul, Baghdad, and India across the Inner Asian steppe and desert. During our meetings participants will discuss the Silk Route as a cultural conduit, on the one hand, as the source of empire and technologies, on the other, and look at specific examples of cultural dissemination. The Silk Route has provided some of the most engaging and best written volumes of travel literature.

There will be no required readings, but students may enjoy Owen Lattimore’s “The Desert Road to Turkestan”, from 1928, or the Franciscan William of Rubruck’s account of his journey to Karakorum in 1255, where he found a Parisian goldsmith preparing a soft drink dispenser for the Khan.

Instructor Rudi Lindner will lead this study group.

This class meets on Wednesdays, from Mach 2– March 30. No classes on holidays.

Pre-registration is required via the OLLI website or phone. A link to access the study group will be e-mailed to you approximately one week prior to the first session.