2016年CRI Scientific investigation in northwest China redefines Silk Road

 

The Silk Road is generally accepted to be an ancient route for travel and trade connecting Eurasia and Africa.

The route was named by German geologist¹ Ferdinand Richthofen in his book in 1877, as he believed it was initially² used for silk trade between China and Europe.

Professor Liu Chuanming with the International Academy of Chinese Culture believes silk is not the sole primary good traded on the road.

"The use of the word "silk" in the naming of the road is very confusing. As other experts mentioned, this road was also used for the trading of minerals, glass, spices, metals, and leathers."

Researcher Jia Congjiang with Xinjiang Academy of Social Sciences thought the development of the road was boosted by the expansion of markets.

"The Silk Road, which prospered³ by way of the pursuit of commercial profits, included regions along the road and even the rest of the Eurasian continent into a unified⁴ market, which pushed the commercial exchange to the height of the pre-industrial age."

In a narrow-sense Silk Road refers to a trans-Eurasia road, which starts from the ancient city Chang'an, passing through Central Asian countries, and ending in Rome.

Professor Liu Chuanming thinks the Silk Road has already transcended⁵ geographical⁶ concepts and become a cultural symbol.

"When the concept of Silk Road was first raised, it was widely accepted as a single road with continuous trade activities. But this is a misinterpretation. In fact, for over a hundred years, no archaeological investigations⁷ have found evidence that can prove the Silk Road to be a specific route. Richthofen drew an imaginary route in his book. Many people even interpreted this route as a railway that the Germans planned to build at that time, and that turned out to be groundless."

Speaking of the "one belt one road" initiative raised by Chinese President Xi Jinping three years ago, Wu Xinhua, head of field research, shared his view.

"Promoting connectivity with our own development to the rest of the world, promoting common development and advancement⁸, these are the inheritance of our fine tradition in modern time."

During the research, the team traveled across the Pamir Plateau and the west wing of the Kunlun mountains, through which many believe the ancient trade route passed.

1 geologist   

n.地质学家

参考例句：

• The geologist found many uncovered fossils in the valley.在那山谷里，地质学家发现了许多裸露的化石。
• He was a geologist,rated by his cronies as the best in the business.他是一位地质学家，被他的老朋友们看做是这门行当中最好的一位。

2 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

3 prospered   

成功，兴旺( prosper的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The organization certainly prospered under his stewardship. 不可否认，这个组织在他的管理下兴旺了起来。
• Mr. Black prospered from his wise investments. 布莱克先生由于巧妙的投资赚了不少钱。

4 unified   

(unify 的过去式和过去分词)； 统一的； 统一标准的； 一元化的

参考例句：

• The teacher unified the answer of her pupil with hers. 老师核对了学生的答案。
• The First Emperor of Qin unified China in 221 B.C. 秦始皇于公元前221年统一中国。

5 transcended   

超出或超越（经验、信念、描写能力等）的范围( transcend的过去式和过去分词 )； 优于或胜过…

参考例句：

• He wanted assurance that he had transcended what was inherently ambiguous. 他要证明，他已经超越了本来就是混淆不清的事情。
• It transcended site to speak to universal human concerns. 它超越了场所的局限，表达了人类共同的心声。

6 geographical   

adj.地理的；地区(性)的

参考例句：

• The current survey will have a wider geographical spread.当前的调查将在更广泛的地域范围內进行。
• These birds have a wide geographical distribution.这些鸟的地理分布很广。

7 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

8 advancement   

n.前进，促进，提升

参考例句：

• His new contribution to the advancement of physiology was well appreciated.他对生理学发展的新贡献获得高度赞赏。
• The aim of a university should be the advancement of learning.大学的目标应是促进学术。