The Once and Future Silk Roads
Growing up in the United States, my Tennessee public school education taught history like it began in the 1700s. Sure, there was Columbus, the Pilgrims, and some scuffle with the French; but the bulk of my education was focused on 1776 and beyond.
I grew up during the Cold War. As I reflect on my ideas about the world in the 1980s, I believed that Russia and China were evil, the Middle East was populated by homicidal maniacs, and Africa was in a perpetual state of famine.
Things changed in college when I actually met people from other countries such as Iran, Taiwan, and Japan (of course, it did not help that the one student from Iran had a mental breakdown one day at convocation and began shouting unintelligibly. He had to be dragged out by security). It was in college that I also experienced my first Asian food, Japanese animation, and the opportunity to do mission work in the Philippines and in England.
My eyes were opened to world history more in Seminary, as I learned about the the lands of the Bible, the Roman Empire, and Europe during the reformation. Yet, in all of my years of study, I never learned anything about the cities of Samarkand, Karakorum, or Kandahar.
Reading The Silk Roads: A New History of the World by Peter Frankopan was a rush of information and insight that connected a lot of the dots that I knew about history.
In this comprehensive yet engaging work, Frankopan highlights one central theme to world history — the Silk Roads. More specifically, since around 300 BC (the time of Alexander the Great) the West has been voraciously traveling to the East in order to trade goods and obtain natural resources. From the earliest days when caravans would bring silk and spices from China and India to the age of sailing where new trading routes brought ships around the Southern tip of Africa in order to access ports across Asia.
The Silk Roads
More than just a book about trade, Frankopan highlights the rise of Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and Islam. A lot of details are given to the rise of the Mongols, the spread of Islam, the crusades, the rise of the African slave trade, and the Black Plague. These were bloody and tragic times in world history.
I was stunned by Frankopan’s telling of why Ferdinand and Isabella financed Columbus’ voyages. As it turned out, Christopher Columbus’ search for a sea route to India was not solely based on commerce or science, it also had a military purpose. At that time, the Iberian Peninsula was under constant threat by the Moors. The crusades had proven to be a failure. Yet, it was a commonly held belief that India was filled with tribes of Christians. If Columbus could contact the Christians in India, he might possibly convince them to join Europe’s Christians armies for one more attempt to free Jerusalem from the Muslims.
I was also horrified to read the story of Vasco De Gama burning an Islamic merchant ship filled with families, with the description of mothers holding up their babies in vain to be rescued. Such savagery was left out of the history books that I had read in my youth.
My favorite part of the book might have been the premise that the Silk Roads were connected to America’s Independence. In the 1700s, Britain’s East India Trading Company had made critical mistakes in Bengal. Stories of a possible shortage of resources caused a run on the stocks in England (Frankopan, 269). Britain felt that the East India Company was “too big to fail” and bailed them out. They did this by raising taxes on the colonies. You know the rest of the story: Boston Tea Party, Revolutionary War, etc.
Throughout the book, Frankopan masterfully paints a picture of a world of both order and chaos. He describes a world where the powerful exploit the weak and great amounts of resources (whether it be China’s silks, India’s spices, Africa’s slaves, South Americas’ gold, or the Middle East’s oil) being transferred from one continent to another.
Frankopan ends the book by talking about a modern revival of the Silk Roads. China has become an economic powerhouse in the world. When I was in Zambia this year, the Chinese were everywhere – trading infrastructure improvements for mineral rights. Frankopan highlights the many rail projects that China has that will bring more and more goods to and from Asia.
This book reminded me of another book that I read a few years ago: Back to Jerusalem: Three House Church Leaders Share Their Vision to Complete the Great Commission. This fascinating book was written by three leaders in China’s underground church. The book tells of a vision that God has given many of the leaders of the churches in China. These Chinese Christians are well aware that the Jesuits and others brought the gospel into China along the old Silk Roads. They claim that God has commissioned the underground church in China to retrace the Silk Roads (from China to Jerusalem) and send out missionaries to the people of Central Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East.
In fact, this is happening already. Without a mission board or credentials, hundreds (possibly thousands) of Chinese believers have sold all their belongings and have moved to cities along the old silk road in order to share the gospel and plant churches.
Frankopan’s premise is that the silk roads are a key component in world history. Could it be that the silk roads are also an important part of the church’s responsibility to fulfill Jesus’ great commission?
More Information on the Back to Jerusalem Movement
Frankopan, Peter. The silk roads: a new history of the world. London: Bloomsbury, 2016.
Back to Jerusalem Three Chinese House Church Leaders Share Their Vision to Complete the Great Commission. Intervarsity Pr, 2005.
About the Author
Stu Cocanougher
8 responses to “The Once and Future Silk Roads”
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“I was also horrified to read the story of Vasco De Gama burning an Islamic merchant ship filled with families, with the description of mothers holding up their babies in vain to be rescued. Such savagery was left out of the history books that I had read in my youth.”
True, we curate what is added and left out of our history. What is the purpose of learning history in our primary schools? In a strong sense, I believe it is to solidify pride in our country and heritage. So when “uncomfortable facts” emerge, they are whitewashed, overlooked, or ignored. That is why historians such as Howard Zinn, though controversial, are so important, because they seek to tell the overlooked stories of our past.
Chinese in Zambia– yes, much of the recent infrastructure in Kenya has been financed and built by Chinese as well. Now we have some of our colleagues in China who are bringing students and families over to Kenya to work and serve in the slums of Nairobi… and hear the gospel. What delight it is to partner in multidirectional mission!
No doubt at one time “the sun never set on British soil.” Truly they had interests all over the world.
I think Frankopan did a marvelous job of telling the history of the whole world while keeping all of these other threads in place.
I appreciate all of the insights you add because of your travels. It makes the history more real!
Yes, Stu I found this tragic too: “Such savagery was left out of the history books that I had read in my youth.” Our history books were edited to present a rosy picture of our founders and explorers. I was rather depressed after reading so many horrific accounts of human brutality throughout history. When God looks at his people, I hope he sees something different. A people who love, encourage, and support one another. Thank you for your thoughtful post and good summary.
Jennifer, I would recommend that you add “A History of Christian Missions” to your library. This classic work was written by a Scottish Anglican Missionary to India. His goes into detail about the history of the church in Asia and Africa.
He highlights many great stories of Godly men and women that are parallel to many of the events in Frankopan’s book.
https://www.amazon.com/History-Christian-Missions-Penguin-Church/dp/0140137637
Stu, thanks for pointing out the return of many to the silk road—”Chinese believers have sold all their belongings and have moved to cities along the old silk road in order to share the gospel and plant churches.” This has been a more recent topic of discussion and research in the missiological circles. It’s fascinating that the influence of the silk road is still prevalent even today in our “modern” world. Enjoyed your post.
Stu.
The further the latter generation is from the beginning, the story changes. The effect of the pain and struggle is less because the latter generation has not experienced it.
The Word of God still prevails. It is presented to the people differently than our history and his image has been redrawn. There are many versions of interpretation. But these version has kept the main story the main story.
Maybe we should share with our children the inheritance of our history – the truth.
Stu,
A very good post!
The connection you make between the Silk Roads and the Great Commission is a great one.
While our doctrines are important, I think the heart of our faith – and in turn, the heart of our outreach – is about relationship.
So, in one way, it makes perfect sense that the Silk Roads might be a center of evangelism and outreach.
Thanks again for the perspective.
Stu I share your sentiments in regards to how history is presented in America. We are the victors and every battle and struggle was justified and glossed over. For many Americans, the unfortunate reality is that they may never learn the truth. Others may only discover it in adulthood or be driven by their curiosity. It is to our detriment that we force our own world view on to how we all see the world.
I enjoyed reading your post especially the connection with China and the underground church movement.