The relationship between ancient Chinese trade and foreign trade

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Trade has also been an important way to conduct the intercultural relations between China and the world，especially at the nongovernmental level.Before the Tang Dynasty，the famous Silk Road was the most important world trade line，stretching East to West-from China to the Mediterranean.In its heyday，towns along it were open to influences from all the major world civilizations at the time，especially India to the south，China to the east，and the Turks to thenorth.The Silk Road was not a trade route that existed solely for the purpose of silk trading；many other commodities were also traded，from gold and ivory to exotic animals and plants.Of all the precious goods crossing this area，silk was perhaps the most remarkable for the people of the West.

In addition to silk，the route carried many other precious commodities.Caravans heading towards China carried gold and other precious metals，ivory，precious stones，and glass，which were not manufactured in China until the 5th century.And in the meantime，the silk products and chinaware valued by the European nobles were reaching West.The art and civilization of the Silk Road achieved its highest point in the Tang Dynasty.Chang’an，as the starting point of the route，as well as the capital of the dynasty，developed into one of the largest and most cosmopolitan cities of the time.By 742，the population had reached almost two million，and the city itself covered almost the same area as present-day Xi’an.The 754 AD census showed that five thousand foreigners lived in the city.There were Turks，Iranians，Indians and others from along the Road as well as Japanese，Koreans and Malays from the east.Many were missionaries，merchants or pilgrims，but every other occupation was also represented.Rare plants，medicines，spices and other goods from the West were to be found in the bazaars of the city.

Until about the 7th century，when Islam started to penetrate Asia，a curtain fell between the East and West.Trade relations soon resumed，however，with the Moslems playing the part of middlemen.The sea route to China was explored at this time，and the Sea Silk Route was opened，eventually holding a more important place than the land route itself, as the land route became less profitable. In the early 15th century, the Chinese seafarer Zheng He commanded seven major maritime expeditions to Southeast Asia and India, and as far as Arabia and the east coast of Africa. On board were large quantities of cargo including silk goods, porcelain, gold and silverware, copper utensils, iron implements and cotton goods, and this increased the trade volume of the Chinese merchants by area.

However, the isolationist policies taken by the later Ming Dynasty did nothing to encourage trade between China and the rapidly developing West. This attitude was maintained until the end of the Qing Dynasty, and had to be adjusted after the Western powers began making inroads into China in the early 19th century.