Russian & Eurasian Studies 312 - Silk Roads: Ancient and Modern

The silk roads were ancient transportation and;trade links that wound their way across the;Eurasian continent, or by sea through the South;China Sea and Indian Ocean, to Europe. They;carried silk, glass, jade, and moved religions and;literatures across continents. Today, the new silk;roads carry oil, gas, drugs, capitalism, and;immigrants seeking better lives. We will;investigate the parallels between the ancient and;modern silk roads and the contemporary strategic,;cultural, and economic significance of these new;highways, which link China, Central Asia, the;Middle East, South Asia, and Europe.

Prereq: 8 credits in Politics, International Relations, History, or Russian and Eurasian studies.