"Chang'an: The Cosmopolitan Capital of the Chinese Empire and Terminus of the Silk Road": A talk by Kathleen M. Ryor November 9, 2007

This lecture will explore the role of the ancient city of Chang'an (located in what is now modern day Xi'an, Shaanxi Province) as a place where the people, ideas, and goods of the Silk Road came together and dynamically interacted with Chinese civilization. As arguably one of the largest and most cosmopolitan cities of the pre-modern world, Chang'an was the capital of various Chinese empires for long periods of time stretching from the eleventh century BCE through the early tenth century. Through a wealth of archaeological evidence, this talk will demonstrate the various ways in which the transcontinental trade of the Silk Road enriched China both culturally and economically over this great span of time. Kathleen M. Ryor is an Associate Professor in the Department of Art and Art History at Carleton College. Sponsored by the Institute for Advanced Study.