Zhang Qian returned to China with a map of this iconic route that stretched all the way to Afghanistan.

The Silk Road dates all the way back to 125 BC (and even before it), and China's knowledge of this route is credited to Zhang Qian. He was on a mission for Emperor Wu when he was captured and imprisoned for thirteen years. But he did not return to China empty-handed. He mapped out the ground he'd covered which became the Silk Road, an important international trading route.

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