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Course: World History Project - Origins to the Present > Unit 3

Lesson 3: Long Distance Trade | 3.2
Arts and humanities
World History Project - Origins to the Present
Era 3—Cities, Societies, and Empires (6,000 BCE to 700 CE)
Long Distance Trade | 3.2
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BEFORE YOU WATCH: The Silk Road and Ancient Trade

Google Classroom
Use the “Three Close Reads” approach as you watch the video below.
Use the “Three Close Reads” approach as you watch the video below (next in the lineup!). If you want to learn more about this strategy, click here.

First read: preview and skimming for gist

Before you watch, you should skim the transcript first. The skim should be very quick and give you the gist (general idea) of what the video is about. You should be looking at the title, thumbnails, pictures, and first few seconds of the video for the gist.

Second read: key ideas and understanding content

Now that you’ve skimmed the video transcript and taken a quick peek at the video, you should preview the questions you will be answering. These questions will help you get a better understanding of the concepts and arguments that are presented in the video. Keep in mind that when you watch the video, it is a good idea to write down any vocab you read or hear that is unfamiliar to you.
By the end of the second close read, you should be able to answer the following questions:
  1. What was the Silk Road?
  2. Why were the nomadic people of Central Asia important for the Silk Road?
  3. How did the Silk Road affect towns and cities along trade routes? Give an example.
  4. Silk was a luxury good. How did it affect ordinary people?
  5. Buddhism was one idea that traveled along the Silk Road trade routes. What are key elements of Mahayana Buddhism?
  6. What was one negative effect of the Silk Road?

Third read: evaluating and corroborating

Finally, here are some questions that will help you focus on why this video matters and how it connects to other content you’ve studied.
At the end of the third read, you should be able to respond to this question:
  1. Many goods—like silk—were moved across huge distances, like from China to Rome. Were there some goods that were more likely to be traded locally, or across smaller trade networks? Why do you think these goods were traded differently? Use evidence from this video and from other material in this era to support your hypothesis.
Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to watch! Remember to return to these questions once you’ve finished watching.

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