The Silk Road as a Skilled Practice: taking the two tea roads as cases

The Silk Road, as a network of trade and cultural exchange, played a pivotal role in the formation, selection, and evolution of knowledge systems across Eurasia. This study introduces two conceptual tools—'Silk Roadness' to describe the aspects of knowledge reflected in its operation, and 'Silk Road+' to denote the transformation it brought to these systems—to argue that the Silk Road facilitated the creation of specialized spaces for knowledge practice. Focusing on the Eurasian Tea Road and the Tea-Horse Road, the research examines commercial cities, transportation methods, and specialized skills that evolved along these routes, such as trade infrastructure, communication strategies, and product packaging. Fieldwork in key locations like Zhangjiakou, Qixian, Pu’er, and Ya’an revealed distinct roles for these sites in facilitating trade between agricultural and nomadic regions and distributing teas to Tibet. The study underscores the intricate relationship between the Silk Road and traditional knowledge systems, advocating for interdisciplinary research to build a comprehensive framework for understanding its legacy.

Wei, C. (2025). The Silk Road as a Skilled Practice: taking the two tea roads as cases. Археология Евразийских Степей, (3), 8–23. https://doi.org/10.24852/2587-6112.2025.3.8.23