All About History - Issue 111, 2021_

T

he Silk Road, a sprawling network

of  ancient land and maritime trade

routes, connected the east to the

west and bridged the gap between distant

civilisations. Although this network famously

gained its name from the lucrative trade of

Chinese silk, other textiles such as wool, cotton

and linen were also bought and sold along the

Silk Road. Of course, lots of other different

commodities were traded too, including

ceramics, spices, incense, food, medicines,

precious stone and metals.

Even though the Silk Road is perhaps best

known for the trade of goods, it also led to an

increase in cultural and intellectual interactions

between distant regions. Numerous cities

that developed along the network, such as

Samarkand, became centres of culture and

learning. Scientific ideas, art, architecture,

technologies, philosophical and religious beliefs

were subsequently disseminated, with this

knowledge influencing the cultural, political and

economic development of civilisations that were

located along the Silk Road.

Many artefacts exist that combine materials,

motifs and techniques to show the impact

of the cultural and intellectual interaction

that occurred along these historic trading

routes. Clothing and textiles from the Silk

Road are particularly useful for highlighting

the inter-cultural exchange that took place

between merchants, travellers, nomads and

agriculturalists, as well as their way of life. For

example, the impact of this can be seen in the

development and adaptation of garment types

and production techniques.

Furthermore, the designs and ornamentations

found on surviving clothing and textiles, such as

stylised fauna or flora, reveal how textile-makers

were influenced by myths and narratives from

other regions. These designs may have been

influenced by the objects owned by traders

from various countries, and they are important

evidence of cross-cultural contact.

This child’s coat is an example of a garment

that is made from fabrics that were woven

in Sogdiana and China. Between the 4th and

8th centuries, Sogdiana, an ancient Iranian

civilisation located in modern-day Uzbekistan,

dominated the trade from east to west. This

coat was most likely owned by a young Tibetan

prince at a time when Tibet’s power reached

as  far as eastern Central Asia, China and

Sogdiana’s trade routes.

CHILD’S COAT

Evidence of Silk Road inter-cultural exchange

Sogdiana and China, c.8th century

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Historical Treasures

THE SILK ROAD

EXPENSIVE CLOTHING

Because the coat is only 84.5cm wide across

the shoulder and 51.4cm long from the back

of the neck to the hem, it is thought to have

been made for a young Tibetan prince. The

rich fabric also suggests it belonged to a

member of the nobility or imperial family.

INTRICATE DESIGN

The outer fabric is woven in five

colours and decorated with paired

ducks in pearl roundels, a Sogdiana

design. The coat’s inner lining

is a  Chinese-made twill damask

featuring a radial f loral pattern.

FULL OUTFIT

This coat is part of a set

that included a pair of

white silk pants and silk

boots as well. A radial

pattern of f lowers and birds

in the style of the Tang

Dynasty from the eighth

century adorns the pants.

PRISTINE GARMENT

Despite being around 1,

years old, it’s in excellent

condition and was most likely

given as a diplomatic gift or

used as currency rather than

being worn. The coat is the

Cleveland Museum of Art’s

oldest dated textile.