The King's Road: Diplomacy and the Remaking of the Silk Road

An exciting and richly detailed new history of the Silk Road that tells how it became more important as a route for diplomacy than for trade

The King’s Road offers a new interpretation of the history of the Silk Road, emphasizing its importance as a diplomatic route, rather than a commercial one. Tracing the arduous journeys of diplomatic envoys, Xin Wen presents a rich social history of long-distance travel that played out in deserts, post stations, palaces, and polo fields. The book tells ...