Studies of Silk Road glass and Chinese glazes

讲座内容：The SilkRoad or Silk Route was an ancient network of trade routes thatwere for centuries central to cultural interaction originally through regionsof Eurasia connecting the East and West and stretching from the Korean peninsula and Japan to theMediterranean Sea.It was a conduit for humans,languages, objects and diseases and is a fascinating example of internationalcross-boundary interaction that has mutually enriched the cultures of Eurasiaand Africa for at least 2000 years. It led to the exchange of ideas thattriggered new scientific and technological developments, and modifiedlanguages.This academic report shows the origin, evolution andspreading of ancient Chinese glass technology. It displays that a wealth ofdata contributed by Chinese and foreign experts regarding the history andbackground, visual characteristics and chemical compositions of the unearthedancient glasses from along the Northern (Oasis) Silk Road, especially from theXinjiang Province (known as the “Western Region” in ancient times). This reportalso illustrates new results of the studies on ancient glasses along theSouthern and Sea Silk Roads, and discusses the influence of the Silk Road onancient Chinese glass technology and art.