2017
DOI: 10.1038/nature21696
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Nomadic ecology shaped the highland geography of Asia’s Silk Roads

Abstract: SummaryThe Eurasian 'Silk Road' is considered one the world's most extensive overland trade networks, yet questions regarding the evolution of its ancient routes and the factors that shaped their geography remain unanswered. This is especially problematic in its vast mountainous stretches, where harsh conditions and terrain are seen as impediments to travel. We present a model that uses highland pasture quality to calculate optimized seasonal herding patterns of nomadic societies, who historically

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Cited by 184 publications
(125 citation statements)
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“…However, long-range trade has an extensive history (2). For instance, in medieval and postmedieval Europe, the onset of urbanized market economies has been linked to the growth of longrange trade by historical and archaeological evidence (3,4).…”
mentioning
confidence: 99%
“…However, long-range trade has an extensive history (2). For instance, in medieval and postmedieval Europe, the onset of urbanized market economies has been linked to the growth of longrange trade by historical and archaeological evidence (3,4).…”
mentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Estas transacciones económicas se remontan a por lo menos 4500 años a.p. y aún antes (Frachetti et al 2017) (Cases et al 2008;Cortegoso et al 2016;Méndez et al 2012;Núñez et al 2017;Pimentel et al 2011;Standen et al 2017;Tripcevich 2010 (Förster 2015).…”
Section: Puede Ser Documentado a Través De Un Espectro De Modelos Eunclassified
“…These economic transactions can be traced back to at least 4500 BP and even earlier (Frachetti et al 2017), considering that obsidian was moving 800-1000 km at least as early as 9500 BP. In the same period and earlier, shells and greenstone beads were also moving hundreds of kilometers, all before domesticated pack animals (Rosen 2016), and likely predating formalized caravans.…”
Section: Puede Ser Documentado a Través De Un Espectro De Modelos Ementioning
confidence: 99%
“…As Figure 4 depicts below and as Figures 5 confirms, charting the course of "Silk Roads" that followed the terrain: valleys separating mountains and rivers, connecting agricultural centres across arid or barren regions purposefully (Frachetti, Smith, Traub & Williams, 2017). An overlapping network that China labels the "New Silk Road" seems to follow the same path.…”
Section: Contours Of Seidenstrassenmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…An overlapping network that China labels the "New Silk Road" seems to follow the same path. Actual locations along the "New Silk Road" resemble actual locations along the "Silk Road" of ancient times, and both are different from randomized contours along the path, shaped by "nomadic ecology" or the countryside paths taken by nomadic herdsmen and hunters across many centuries (Frachetti et al, 2017). Significantly, this means that although the "Silk Roads" may well have contributed to a cohesive Eurasia or to joinder of Africa with Europe, their configuration occurred by reason of geographical limitations and preferences of ordinary inhabitants of the region, not the design of China or any other great power, past or present.…”
Section: Contours Of Seidenstrassenmentioning
confidence: 99%