‘Silk Road’ has become one of the most pervasive terms in Eurasian studies, invoked in a wide range of areas of research including history, archaeology, geography, cultural heritage, and geopolitics. This course examines the politics surrounding the evolution of ‘Silk Road’ in scientific research throughout history and the ways these narratives have continually redefined the geographies of connectivity within and beyond Eurasia—through logistics, infrastructure, cultural diplomacy, and most recently, technology and digitalization.
To be clear, the subject of inquiry is not the vast array of historical and cultural materials typically included within the broad framework of ‘Silk Road’ cultural exchange, it is ‘Silk Road’ itself.
- Teacher: Annie Chan