Readings

What are the best books about the Silk Road? Perhaps the easiest and most exciting to read is by Peter Hopkirk enittled Foreign Devils on the Silk Road.  It details how the various ruins from the 6-8th century were rediscovered at the end of the 19th century.  It is very exciting and reveals the hardships of traversing the Taklamakan desert and why it is considered the most inhospitable place on earth!
 

Another fabulous book is by ELizabeth Wayland Barber who tells the story of the discovery and background of tthe mummies found along the silk road,.  A few interesting points: 1) the mummies are 3,000 yrs old, 2) they are Caucasian - blond hair, 6'6" tall, and 3) perfectly preserved due to the high salt content of the burial sites. What is also striking are the perfectly preserved textiles and baby bottles made from sheep
udders and toys.    If I had to pick the most "spectacular book" on the silk road it would be Johnathan Tucker's THe silk Road -Art and History.
I t is the best combinatin of text, photos, maps,etc.  it is also based on his personal travels through the area and it is the ultimate resource book...just superb.