This is a magnificent, big, exhibition that tells the story of the SILK ROADS, in objects, from 500-1000 AD.
You certainly get the impression of the roads, as opposed to a single road. These routes were the interconnections of the world during this period. It is Asia centric, and shows the major developments coming from the East, which are transferred to the West especially via Arabia.
The objects selected are stunning, and show it was not just one route, travelled by one group, but that there were exchange points, from where objects were passed forward and back.
For me the most important question was the development of ideas, science and culture.
Religion, first Buddhism, spread through Asia; China still has the largest number of Buddhists. These had schools that taught maths, astronomy and other subjects. Indian Buddhist schools were the most advanced in these areas. Chinese pottery, metalworking and silk production were accompanied by these sciences.
The exhibition is divided into the main centres of the routes, running from China, right up to where objects from the roads ended up, this included Sweden and also the Sutton Hoo burial in Britain.
The most impressive are artefacts from:
- the Hall of The Ambassadors,
- 7th Century Samarkand,
- the 5th Century Dunhuang Library Cave,
- the Belitung shipwreck, off Sumatra,
- the pottery camels from graves in Hunan.
The Arabic part of this trail is so important, where the sciences were developed further, and combined with Greek knowledge. Overall, however, the objects are so numerous and breathtaking you need 2 hours to go around, and longer to take it in.
The most important thing is you are taken away from a Eurocentric reading of history.
A lot can be learned even if you only have a passing interest. For myself the objects were stunning, but I would prefer if it dealt more with ideas. For example in one of the cabinets is a small mention of the Indian Tables. This is where the idea of the zero, and thus decimalisation came from – a world changing idea.
I recommend a visit.
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