Geography of Silk

Routes
→ routes extends from North China (commercial centers, going west), divides into North and South routes, thus avoiding the Tibetan Plateau.

→ NORTHERN ROUTE (Land Route)
- passed through Bulgar-Kyphchak region
- (Towards northwest) through Gansu. (Chinese province)

*Spilts into THREE further routes.
-TWO pass North and South of Taklamakan Desert to rejoin at Kashgar
-THIRD ONE goes north of Tien Shan through Turfan & Almaty.
-ALL THREE join up at Konkand in Fergana Valley,
-Continue west acoss Karakum Desert towards Merv,
-Joining Southern Route briefly.

THEN...
-ONE goes northwest along Amu Darya river to Aral Sea,
-Past ancient civilisations under Modern Astrakhan,
-Continue to Crimean Peninsula.

*FROM THERE...
-Crosses Caspian Sea,
-Across Caucasus to Black Sea,
-Finally to Constantinople.

→ SOUTHERN ROUTE (Sea Route)
-Mainly single route that runs through Northern India, to
-Turkestan-Khorasan region,
-Into Mesopotamia and Anatolia.

DETAILEDLY...
-Goes south through Sichuan Basin,
-Crosses high mountains into Northeast India, by Ancient Tea Route
-Travels west ALONG Brahmaputra & Ganges River Plains,
-Joining Grand Trunk Rd (West of Varanasi),
-Runs through NORTHERN PAKISTAN,
-Over Hindu Kuh Mountains,
-Rejoining the NORTHERN ROUTE near Merv.

Population
→ Jewish (Chinese Jews)