Communications in Humanities Research ISSN: 2753-7072
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Research Article

The Early Function of Han Silk Road

Zerui ZhuHamilton College*

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

This paper explores the early strategic functions of the Silk Road during the Han dynasty, specifically its role in undermining the Xiongnu Empire. Through primary sources like the Hanshu and Shiji, the study analyzes how Emperor Wudi leveraged diplomatic missions led by Zhang Qian to forge alliances with Central Asian states. Contrary to the common belief that the Silk Road was primarily for trade, this research highlights its original purpose as a diplomatic and military tool aimed at dividing and weakening the Xiongnu's influence. The findings demonstrate that the Han dynasty's deployment of marriage alliances, gift exchanges, and military outposts along the Silk Road served to erode the Xiongnu’s internal cohesion, ensuring the security and stability of the Han Empire. This paper thus reinterprets the early Silk Road not as an economic route, but as a means of strategic diplomacy in ancient China.

Keywords: Early Silk Road; Han diplomacy; Xiongnu division strategy; Zhang Qian's expeditions; Central Asia alliances
Published: June 9, 2025
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/2024.23629
Volume: CHR Vol.70
pp. 89-92
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References

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