Question
“The Silk Road was more significant for interregional trade than it was for the transmission of ideas.” To what extent do you agree with this statement?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans:
Candidates will consider the merits or otherwise of the argument that the Silk Road was more significant for interregional trade than for the transmission of ideas. While the focus of the response must be within the timeframe of this topic, it does not need to span it, nor do the factors affecting interregional trade and the transmission of ideas need to be contemporaneous. Candidates may elect to agree or disagree with the statement or they may find some middle ground, arguing that significance varied at different times. Some candidates may suggest that significance varied per the direction of travel. They may note, for example, that the Islamic Golden Age and the 12th century Western renaissance could both be regarded a consequence of ideas that were transmitted from the East. Some candidates may also suggest that the East gained little in return.
Question
Evaluate the significance of Tamerlane’s [Timur’s] rule to the effective functioning of the Silk Road.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans:
Candidates will make an appraisal of the significance of Tamerlane (Timur or Timur-i Lang) to the effective functioning of the Silk Road. Some candidates may argue that, in the context of the period, he was very significant and that his facilitation of cultural developments in Samarkand enabled cultural changes to radiate along the Silk Road. Others may argue that the limited impact of his conquests on the growth of Ottoman power contributed to the long-term diminishing of the Silk Road as, ultimately, the Ottomans would close its western end. Additionally, or alternatively, candidates may suggest that the significance of Tamerlane’s rule was mixed, noting that his conquests were not permanent and the unity of his empire collapsed after his death. The ensuing civil war between his heirs had serious ramifications for the functioning of the trade routes.
Question
Evaluate the importance of the Mongol Empire to the effective functioning of the Silk Road.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans:
Candidates will appraise the importance of the Mongol empire to the Silk Road, gauging how far its effective functioning was due to, or perhaps despite, the actions of the Mongol empire. Candidates may adopt a chronological approach, outlining how effectively the Silk Road functioned at the beginning, during and at the end of the Mongol period and address the ways in which this could be linked to Mongol activity, or they could choose a thematic approach and address the Mongols’ impact on areas such as trade, travel and cultural exchange. While candidates may also reflect on other (non-Mongol) factors that aided or inhibited the effective functioning of the Silk Road during the period, the focus of the response must be on the importance of the Mongol empire.
Question
“The transmission of religious ideas was the most important consequence of cultural interaction along the Silk Road.” Discuss.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans:
Candidates will offer a considered and balanced review of the statement, with which they may agree, partially agree or disagree. Candidates may suggest that the transmission of religious ideas was largely one directional, travelling from west to east and that, as such, its importance is dependent on geographical viewpoint. Additionally or alternatively, candidates may suggest that another (or a range of other) consequence(s) of cultural interaction were more significant. For example, the transmission of mathematical and scientific knowledge, the spread of literary works, the evolution of architecture, urban design and other artistic developments—such as in ceramics and jewellery—may all be used to elucidate the consequences of cultural interaction. While no set response is expected, candidates must incorporate a review of the importance or otherwise of the transmission of religious ideas.