What is the function of the Silk Road?

1. Military role. The initial opening of the Silk Road, especially the purpose of Zhang Qian sent by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty to "hollow out the western regions", was based on military considerations. The opening of the Silk Road is indeed of great strategic significance to the Central Plains-it has expanded the strategic space of the Central Plains. The opening of the Silk Road and the control of the Central Plains Dynasty over the western regions extended the outpost in contact with western civilization to the west by several Qian Qian meters, which enabled the Central Plains to gain a strategic buffer zone on the Qian Qian rice. 2. Trade channels. China is the first country in the world to invent sericulture and silk weaving. Silk is not only an exclusive commodity produced in China, but also regarded as a cultural symbol of eastern countries in the eyes of westerners. Besides silk, spices are also very precious commodities. In ancient China, you had to rely on a large number of Hu merchants on the Silk Road to provide a large demand for spices. Therefore, on the Silk Road, a trade flow of silk from east to west and spices from west to east was formed. Faced with this attractive source of wealth, Chinese and foreign businessmen have an irresistible yearning and impulse. Oriental silk, tea, porcelain, western spices, jewelry, glassware and other light but expensive luxuries are continuously sold everywhere through the Silk Road. 3. The East meets the West. On the material level, the Silk Road opened direct communication between different species in the East and the West. From a technical point of view, the Tang Dynasty left many excellent products, such as the technology of making gold and silver vessels and the technology of raising horses in the West. The technologies of drilling wells, gunpowder and papermaking in the Central Plains gradually spread to the West. Culturally, Buddhism, Manichaeism, Zoroastrianism, Islam, Nestorianism and other religions were introduced into the Central Plains, and many of them profoundly influenced the thoughts and behaviors of China people. In addition to talent, the music, dance, costumes, painting and other aspects of the Central Plains have been strongly influenced by Hu Feng.