Lecture
Zvi Ben-Dor Benite
The Silk Road in World History
Summary
Unlike any other road in history, the Silk Road, which linked China to Europe and the Mediterranean, has profoundly influenced world history through its exchange of goods, ideas, and people. This presentation will examine in depth what made this historical trade route so crucial, how it impacted the expansion of Buddhism and Islam, what accounts for its current comeback, and finally, what the Silk Road’s relationship is to Yiddish.
Zvi Ben-Dor Benite
Zvi Ben-Dor Benite is Professor of History and Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at New York University. He is the author and editor of several books on Chinese History, Islamic History, and Jewish World history.