Having set out in search of an alliance against the nomadic Xiongnu, Zhang Qian brought back detailed information about the peoples and lands to the west. These expeditions laid the groundwork for the development of the trade routes between China and Central Asia, the network later known as the Silk Road.
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Frequently asked questions
- What was Zhang Qian's Expedition to the West (Opening of the Silk Road)?
- Zhang Qian, the envoy commissioned by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, set out around 138 BCE on a long expedition of exploration toward Central Asia.
- When did Zhang Qian's Expedition to the West (Opening of the Silk Road) happen?
- 138 BCE