Zhang Qian's First Mission: The Opening of the Silk Road (139-126 BCE)

139 BCE · Orta Asya · trade

Wudi sent Zhang Qian to Central Asia to form an alliance with the Yuezhi.

He was held captive by the Xiongnu for 10 years; he escaped and continued his journey, bringing back information about Ferghana (its horses), Bactria and Parthia. It heralded the effective opening of the Silk Road. | China's "discovery" of Central Asia; "seen by every country and heard of by none" — the beginning of the Han's global vision.

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Frequently asked questions

What was Zhang Qian's First Mission: The Opening of the Silk Road (139-126 BCE)?
Wudi sent Zhang Qian to Central Asia to form an alliance with the Yuezhi.
When did Zhang Qian's First Mission: The Opening of the Silk Road (139-126 BCE) happen?
139 BCE
Where did Zhang Qian's First Mission: The Opening of the Silk Road (139-126 BCE) take place?
Orta Asya