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The topic for this unit plan is about the Silk Road that spanned from the Eastern
Mediterranean to China. This was a time that trading flourished, religion was spread, and
networks were established in Eurasia. The Silk Road really was not all about silk and really did
not happen on roads. One of the main concepts of this time period are the establishment of
networks for trading goods and ideas. These networks helped spread goods like silk and jade
from China to the other side of Eurasia in exchange for olives and wine from the Eastern
Mediterranean region. Another network that emerged on these silk roads was religion. Buddhism
started in India and through the silk roads, eventually spread to China. Trading goods and ideas
along these silk roads are two main ideas from this unit that students can apply to their lives
today. My hope for this unit is that students realize that the world is connected more than ever
because of these networks that were established many years ago. All parts of the world are
different and trade unique products along the silk road and also in todays society. The spread of
religion has also shifted in the past thousands of years. Even though Buddhism started in India, I
hope students recognize this shift of religion was spread to Eastern China. Today, India is a
country that has a majority of people that believe in Hinduism. This unit didnt have room to talk
about other major religions other than Buddhism, but this exchange of ideas is important.
Both the geography and major empires are two more concepts that I want students to
connect with. I hope by having students locate various mountain ranges, deserts, bodies of water,
and countries on a map, that they will recognize how vast and diverse the world is. These
geographical features can pose as barriers and passages for the silk road. Mountains and deserts
are going to be traveled differently than bodies of water and through fertile lands. The world still
has diverse geographical features, and students should be aware that the world is so much more

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than just East Grand Rapids, Michigan. I want students to connect empires with modern world
powers. Empires were ruled by emperors and were places of innovation and culture. China had
empires such as the Qin and Han empires and can still be seen as a world power today.
I hope that through these lessons on geography, empires, and religion, students will be
able to understand how these concepts shaped the silk road. These ideas were important during
this time, and are still significant today. My goal is that students grasp that the world is more
connected than ever and this affects their lives today. These students will gain a better
understanding of how the world has shifted over time and how these emerging trade networks
still influence and affect their lives today.