Q 01/05

Roughly how long were the overland routes of the Silk Road?

A) About 3,000 km

B) Over 6,400 km

C) About 1,500 km

D) About 12,000 km

Answer · why

B) Over 6,400 km

Very few travellers ever covered the whole distance; goods passed through a chain of middlemen.

Q 02/05

Which German geographer popularised the term 'Silk Road' (Seidenstraße) in 1877?

A) Ferdinand von Richthofen

B) August Heinrich Petermann

C) Alexander von Humboldt

D) Friedrich Ratzel

Answer · why

A) Ferdinand von Richthofen

He made seven expeditions to China; his student Sven Hedin wrote the first book titled The Silk Road in 1938.

Q 03/05

Which Chinese dynasty opened the Silk Road by expanding into Central Asia around 114 BCE?

A) The Tang

B) The Qin

C) The Song

D) The Han

Answer · why

D) The Han

The Great Wall was extended westward partly to protect the new trade route.

Q 04/05

Which Han envoy's missions to the West, from 138 BCE, trail-blazed the Silk Road?

A) Gan Ying

B) Zhang Qian

C) Ban Chao

D) Zhang Heng

Answer · why

B) Zhang Qian

He was sent to find the Yuezhi as allies against the Xiongnu and came back with reports on Ferghana, Bactria and Parthia.

Q 05/05

How long did the Xiongnu hold the Han envoy captive on his outward journey to the Yuezhi?

A) Five years

B) Two years

C) Twenty-five years

D) Thirteen years

Answer · why

D) Thirteen years

He married a Xiongnu wife, escaped, completed his mission and was captured again on the way home.