The British Museum’s Silk Roads exhibition delves into the interconnected history of Asia, Europe, and north Africa over a millennia ago. Through epic trade routes, known as the Silk Roads, cultures were shared and exchanged, challenging the idea of isolation or clash of civilizations between east and west. The exhibition showcases the journey of merchants through fabulous oases, desert palaces, synagogues, mosques, and burial mounds.
With a focus on the period between AD500 to AD1000, the exhibition highlights the exchange of art, religion, and ideas between different civilizations along the Silk Roads. From the discovery of Buddhist art treasures in Dunhuang, China, to the display of Sogdian treasures from Samarkand, the exhibition presents forgotten or dismissed civilizations as artistic show-stoppers.
The Silk Roads exhibition also sheds light on the interconnectedness of different regions, including Afghanistan, Andalusia, Fustat in Egypt, and even Britain during Anglo-Saxon times. Through artifacts like a clay statue from Bamiyan, a mosaic from a desert palace in Jordan, and a Tang statue depicting nomadic horsemen, the exhibition showcases the richness and diversity of cultures that were once connected through these ancient trade routes.
In a world where borders seem to divide more than ever, the Silk Roads exhibition at the British Museum reminds visitors of the shared history and cultural exchange that once defined the interconnectedness of the world.
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Photo credit www.theguardian.com
