Trade & Cultural Exchange in Early Asia

In this seminar series, we travel back to the first millennium of trade and exchange in early Asia, looking both at overland routes and maritime corridors. What moved on these routes, and how did the diffusion of ideas, technologies, and products across Asian societies change world history? We will focus in particular on the Silk Routes, interactions between nomadic and settled societies, and the spread of Buddhism and Hinduism. The series will be particularly oriented to the 7th grade social studies curriculum, but art teachers may benefit from the strong visual and material culture component of the series, and WH1 teachers may find it useful for background knowledge. Participants will also have the opportunity to preview lessons from two new 7th grade curriculum units about South and Central Asia (7.T1) and East Asia (7.T2) created for Massachusetts teachers by DESE.