Table of Contents
The historical importance of Kashgar has primarily been linked to its significance as a trading centre. Located at the foot of the Pamirs Mountains between a vast desert and immense mountain range, Kashgar was once an isolated oasis on the long trade route across the Asian continent.
What is the strategic importance of Kashgar?
Kashgar is an important derives from its strategic position and located on the foot of Pamir Mountain, commanding access to the highest glacial pass on the ancient Silk Road into Central Asia, India and Persia. The weary trade caravans plodding west on the northern and southern routes merged in Kashgar.
How old is Kashgar?
With a population of over 500,000, Kashgar has served as a trading post and strategically important city on the Silk Road between China, the Middle East and Europe for over 2,000 years, making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the World.
Why did Kashgar develop into a thriving city?
Kashgar in China was a thriving center of trade, where northern and southern routes of the Silk Roads crossed, and aided to travelers who were in need of water and food. Samarkand was another city that acted as a stopping point on the Silk Roads, and served as a cultural exchange center and a spot for trading goods.
What did Kashgar do?
Situated at the foot of the Pamirs (mountains) where the ranges of the Tien Shan and the Kunlun Mountains join, Kashgar commanded historical caravan routes—notably the famed Silk Road westward to Europe via the Fergana Valley of present-day Uzbekistan, as well as routes going south to the Kashmir region and north to Sep 14, 2021.
How was Kashgar important to the Silk Road?
The historical importance of Kashgar has primarily been linked to its significance as a trading centre. Located at the foot of the Pamirs Mountains between a vast desert and immense mountain range, Kashgar was once an isolated oasis on the long trade route across the Asian continent.
When was Kashgar established?
Kashgar was incorporated into the People’s Republic of China in 1949. During the Cultural Revolution, one of the largest statues of Mao in China was built in Kashgar, near People’s Square. On October 31, 1981, an incident occurred in the city due to a dispute between Uyghurs and Han Chinese in which three were killed.
Is Kashgar a desert?
Market nutseller KASHGAR (1,600 kilometers from Urumqi, 320 kilometers from Pakistan) is a famous Silk Road oasis situated between the Tian Shan, the Pamir Mountains, and the Taklamakan Desert.
Does Kashgar exist?
Kashgar is still a Uyghur town full of friendly Uyghur people and for that reason, it’s still worth visiting. Like I said, the new Old City, despite its lack of history, is still charming.
Where is Khotan located?
The Kingdom of Khotan was an ancient Iranian Saka Buddhist kingdom located on the branch of the Silk Road that ran along the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert in the Tarim Basin (modern Xinjiang, China).
What language do they speak in Kashgar?
The Western Yugur language, although in geographic proximity, is more closely related to the Siberian Turkic languages in Siberia. Robert Dankoff wrote that the Turkic language spoken in Kashgar and used in Kara Khanid works was Karluk, not (Old) Uyghur.
What is the significance of Samarkand?
Samarkand derived its commercial importance in ancient and medieval times from its location at the junction of trade routes from China and India. With the arrival of the railway in 1888, Samarkand became an important centre for the export of wine, dried and fresh fruits, cotton, rice, silk, and leather.
How did traders overcome the challenge of the desert?
How did traders overcome the challenge of the desert? They used a special type of camel, traveled in groups, and planned their trips to oases.
What did Kashgar import?
Kashgar traded in silk, spices, gold, and gemstones. It was one of the biggest trading centers on the Silk Road.
What goods did Kashgar trade?
With a market area of over a square mile, Kashgar was a major trading post on the Silk Road. Thousands of caravans on camels passed through here transporting silk, gold, spices, and gemstones.
How long is the Silk Road?
The Silk Road extended approximately 6,437 kilometers (4,000 miles) across some of the world’s most formidable landscapes, including the Gobi Desert and the Pamir Mountains. With no one government to provide upkeep, the roads were typically in poor condition.
How did the Silk Road promote an exchange of goods and ideas?
The silk road promoted the exchange of goods and ideas by allowing people a route to follow, where along the way they can trade goods. As goods were traded, so were ideas. These ideas were spread from person to person, along with the goods. In the end creating cultural diffusion.
Why was Baghdad so important for Silk Road trade?
During the Middle Ages, Baghdad was an international trade centre on the Silk Roads networks. Its strategic geographical position made Baghdad a major central market for merchandise coming from diverse regions such as India, China, Daylam, or Anatolia.
Why was the Silk Road important to the development of China?
The Silk Road was important because it helped to generate trade and commerce between a number of different kingdoms and empires. This helped for ideas, culture, inventions, and unique products to spread across much of the settled world.
Did Marco Polo go to Kashgar?
Marco Polo was attracted by beautiful Kashgar and Hetian famed for its jade. Then they traversed Taklimakan Desert, arrived in Dunhuang and visited the Mogao Grottoes, noted for Buddhist sculptures and frescos.
What is the most western city in China?
Kashi (pronounced kah-shur and sometimes spelled Kashgar) is China’s westernmost city, a border outpost nestled between one of the world’s highest mountain ranges, the Pamirs, and one of its most forbidding deserts, the Taklimakan.
Is it safe to travel to Xinjiang?
Yes, Xinjiang is safe to visit. The Uyghur people are some of the most friendly you’ll ever come across. Most visitors feel it is totally safe in the main tourist areas, though there may be an elevated police presence.