La via della seta: Dèi, guerrieri, mercanti

Odyssey Guides

by Luce Boulnois

La Via della Seta: quattro parole che fanno sognare più che mai! Nomi come Samarcanda, Bukhara, Khotan o Chang'an continuano ad affascinarci per la ricchezza del loro passato. Con la caduta delle cortine di ferro e di bambù, praticamente tutta l'Asia Centrale e la Cina - per lungo tempo inaccessibili ai viaggiatori e ricercatori - possono di nuovo essere visitate. Luce Boulnois racconta i rapporti tra Oriente e Occidente e le reciproche influenze alla luce delle ultime scoperte archeologiche, tenendo conto dei recenti sconvolgimenti geopolitici. Luce Boulnois, storica e "ingegnere ricercatrice" del CNRS, è specialista di Storia della Via della Seta e di Scambi transhimalayani.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Travel, China, Research, Asia, Iran

554 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1964

Reviews

[Maisie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read. Lots of history, lots of detail of how these ancient routes forged the links between east and west.
I learnt a good deal from this.

[Hock Tjoa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Luce Bulnois spent a long time working in and around the area of the Silk Road. She is well equipped to pronounce on the sources. Alas she does so without a clear organizing principle. She has followed her sources and the subjects that interest her. At one point, I braced against a chapter on silkworms such as Melville wrote on whales, but Bulnois managed to break her findings up into two or three places. She knows about the Chinese who have made pilgrimages or expeditions to or through the area; she knows also the Western sources.

There is a learned excursus into whether or not Marco Polo actually went to China as well as a less critical one into Joseph d'Ancona whose "book" has been translated (1998) as City of Light but the original of which no one other than the translator has seen. On that score alone some would be tempted to disqualify d'Ancona as a source.

But the pictures and maps in this edition (Odyssey, from the French original by Olizanne) are very informative, even brilliant. I enjoyed the somewhat bumpy ride, but I put the book away wondering why the English title speaks of "Monks" while the French of "Dieux."

[Heideblume · Rating 3 out of 5]

La prima parte è meravigliosa, la seconda invece ha subito quel che credo essere stato un calo degli argomenti e dell'ispirazione da parte dell'autrice.

[Mattia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un incredibile e potente viaggio storico-geografico per capire come la seta fosse presente sulle rive del mediterraneo già più di 2000 anni fa, quando i confini del mondo restavano ancora ben celati a chi popolava il Vecchio Continente.
Luce Boulnois ci porta alla scoperta delle antiche piste carovaniere, spiegandoci come la seta venisse inizialmente filata solo in Cina, e da lì trasportata, venduta, scambiata, e rubata raggiungesse ogni angolo del mondo antico conosciuto. Attraverso un’approfondita analisi delle fonti (principalmente orientali) l’autrice fa luce su come i prodotti più diversi, ma anche le credenze religiose e i segreti di culture lontane, viaggiassero per migliaia di chilometri attraverso il cuore dell’Asia per raggiungere l’Occidente.
Scritto con tono accademico ma ampiamente accessibile, questo libro è una perla per tutti coloro che amano viaggiare attraverso i luoghi e la storia di paesi lontani e mitici di cui oggi possiamo solo sognare l’esplorazione.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good if you're into history, although it did repeat itself a lot, and got terribly in-depth with things such as terminology of various trade goods as they were named at the time (including the several dozens of types of silk.) Still, it painted a good image of the varying dynasties and empires that lay between Rome and China, and the rise and fall of them, as well as the dissemination of knowledge and goods. Worth a read if you're a historical nut.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been drawn to the history of Asia for a good few years. The Silk Road is a magnet: its mystery and its romance. So,... for me this was an absorbing read: not too in depth to become a trudge yet, full of investing and relevant history and the maps are a most helpful inclusion.

I'm glad I took the time with it.

[Peter Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have and I assume always will have a sense of wonder and excitement when I find or read different books and articles on Central Asia. This book may be the exception, but it was never anticipated to be so.
I originally bought this book just as I started my degree and sadly it was shelved due to the workload that I had to contend with, but it never fell from my peripheral vision. As soon as I finished my degree, it was the first book to be pulled off the shelf and turned into my nightly after work reader.
The reason why this book became an exception to all others that I have read concerning the subject matter was due to the comprehensive depth and ease of the writing style.
Luce Boulnois was a French historian who specialised in the silk road and trans-Himalayan trade, and the evidence of her encyclopaedic knowledge and unlimited range of excellence are clearly defined and displayed in every phrase and sentence in this book.
A pleasure to read from start to end, comprehensive, detailed and overtly beautiful with maps and colour photos that show the harshness and beauty of this amazing landscape.
I have read books that have changed my perspective in life, where as this consolidated what I had read in the past into something better resembled a coherent interest rather than ephemeral fascinations of historical footnotes.
This book would be a great Sunday afternoon reader or a key reference point in any academic research, which highlights the story telling and historiographic literary skills that the author had at her disposal, and then perfectly executed.
I loved every page of this book and I hope that whoever does read it will also enjoy this amazing piece of literature as much as I did.

[Francesco · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ha dei momenti di epicità e di cose interessanti, ma si perde:
- in inutili e prolissi ripetizioni di come si fa ad allevare un baco da seta e come si ricava poi la seta. Alla quarta volta penso che lo capirebbero tutti, no? No, l'autore lo deve ripetere per spiegare perché in quella particolare regione è fatto in maniera leggermente diversa, e per farlo rispiega tutto daccapo
- in alternativa ci sono i cavalli, che non ho ancora capito perché nessuno avesse mai pensato di metter su un allevamento vagamente decente in Cina e dovessero sempre invece importarli dai popoli confinanti. Ok, i cavalli mongoli sono imbattibili ma ci sarà pure modo di allevare un cavallo che non si azzoppi quando fa un singolo passo (come invece sembra che capitasse coi cavalli cinesi originali)
- dopo un po' diventa troppo franciocentrico. Se possibile un qualunque testo citato deve essere pubblicato in francese, poi siccome siamo magnanimi ci sono rari casi di autori che non hanno pubblicato (o non sono stati tradotti) in francese e allora va bene il testo inglese. In alcuni casi ci sta, in altri molto meno.

Ametto di non aver letto bene il sottotitolo, e di supporre che fosse una storia della Via della seta.
L'unica cosa certa che ho imparato è che la Via della Seta non è mai esistita, nel senso che non c'+ mai stata una via carovaniera unitaria nota con quel nome.

[Marjorie Schultz · Rating 3 out of 5]

LOTS of information on the routes trade took in Marco Polo's time. The maps were very helpful for me to visualize where these events took place. I learned a lot about how silk is made an dhow it was regulated in this time frame.

Spoiler: It has only been called the Silk road in more recent history.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of information and some stunning photos. Loved all the maps.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this really informative. It's easy to understand why 'The Silk Roads' as a topic has such a large presence in literature.

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read. Although I've nothing to judge it against, I'd say it is wonderfully in depth with a heap of detail.

[Radit Panjapiyakul · Rating 3 out of 5]

This comprehensive history of Silk Road and silk itself covers as much grounds as to satisfy any enthusiasts' need. The tone is quite academic, but not too dry for couch reading. Sometimes Boulnois gets too deep in the details of trading products, silver, lapis lazuli, pearl, asbestos, tea, horse, to name a few. And then we have the numerous names of ancient cities and ports which should be quite confusing for anyone not acquainted with this part of the world. But all in all, it gives a complete look on its subject. The additional parts about traveling on Silk Road and the list of museums are also quite useful.

[Frank Cardenas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully written but unfortunately it did not live up to my expectations of the actual Silk Road. Attracted by the cover and the comments on it, I bought this book before actually doing the Silk Road in China, unfortunately, I was expecting a different content, sth that would allow me to enjoy my trip a bit more, I did not find it there.

[Theeng · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm reading this book for my graduate Art of the Silk Road seminar. It's not exactly graduate-level reading, but my professor prefers books that are easily accessible to students. Though the organization leaves much to be desired, the material is hardly comprehensive or academic, the book is at best an introduction to the figures or peoples significant to the history of the silk routes.

[Writerlibrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good introduction to the history, geography and people that lived, travelled and explored the "silk road". Lots of interesting ideas to further explore. The bibliography offers dozens of titles to read to explore, learn and enjoy.I took lots of notes and now have quite a bit of new books to look forward to read in the future.

[Omar Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really interesting book, which explains in fascinating detail how trade in silk, horses and other goods helped form the world from China to Europe over 2,000 years. Well-written, with some nice French generalizations and broad-scope analysis, with exciting twists and turns along the way.

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very comprehensive book on the Silk Road from sources from all through the history of the trade route and from many different places. The book did seem repetitive at times, but the writing style is pleasant to read.

[Robin Rivers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful look into the ancient history of the Silk Road from Luce Boulois. Her writing - although dealing with historical academia and research - is warm and conversational.

Wonderful photos and resources for travelling the Silk Road at the end of the book as well.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit dry, written in the French school of economic history. It didn't really cover the points I was hoping it would (the
"European" settlements).

[Breco]

good