Silk Road Traders: A Quest for Commerce
Created byCharity Helman
1 views0 downloads

Silk Road Traders: A Quest for Commerce

Grade 8Social Studies5 days
In this project, students explore the historical significance of the Silk Road by adopting the roles of merchants, investigating trade routes, and analyzing the cultural exchange that occurred. They examine the impact of geographical factors, assess how different societies benefited, and study the dissemination of ideas and technologies. The project culminates in an analysis of the Silk Road's decline and its consequences on dependent societies, fostering an understanding of global interconnectedness and historical transformation.
Silk Road TradeCultural ExchangeGeographical ChallengesMerchant LifeSocietal ImpactInnovation DisseminationDecline of Trade
Want to create your own PBL Recipe?Use our AI-powered tools to design engaging project-based learning experiences for your students.
📝

Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How did the exchange of goods, ideas, and culture along the Silk Road transform the societies and landscapes it connected, and what challenges did traders face in this process?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.
  • What were the major trade goods along the Silk Road, and what made them valuable?
  • How did geographical factors influence trade routes and the goods exchanged?
  • What were the cultural impacts of the Silk Road?
  • How did different societies along the Silk Road benefit from or adapt to trade?
  • In what ways did trade along the Silk Road lead to exchange of ideas, technologies, and artistic styles?
  • What were the risks and challenges associated with traveling and trading on the Silk Road, and how did traders mitigate these?
  • How did the Silk Road contribute to the development of cities and empires?
  • How did the decline of the Silk Road impact the societies that depended on it?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:
  • Understand the main goods traded along the Silk Road and their value.
  • Analyze the impact of geographical factors on trade routes.
  • Evaluate the cultural effects of the Silk Road.
  • Assess how different societies benefited from or adapted to trade.
  • Investigate the exchange of ideas, technologies and artistic styles.
  • Identify the risks and challenges of Silk Road trade and how traders dealt with them.
  • Explain the Silk Road's contribution to the growth of cities and empires.
  • Analyze the effects of the Silk Road's decline on dependent societies.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

The Silk Road Marketplace

The class is transformed into a bustling Silk Road marketplace, complete with themed decorations and simulated trading posts. Students assume the roles of merchants from different regions, each with unique goods and trading objectives, fostering competition and collaboration as they navigate the challenges of supply and demand.

The Recreated Journey

An anonymous benefactor challenges students to recreate a famous journey along the Silk Road, but with a twist: they must document their progress through a series of journal entries, artistic renderings, and multimedia presentations, showcasing their understanding of the historical context and cultural exchange.
📚

Portfolio Activities

Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.
Activity 1

Silk Road Merchant Profile

Students will research and create a merchant profile detailing their origin, goods traded, and the value of those goods in different regions.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Choose a region and a type of good to trade.
2. Research the origin, production, and demand for the chosen good.
3. Determine the value of the good in different regions along the Silk Road.
4. Create a merchant profile with details about their origin, goods, and trade values.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA detailed merchant profile presented as a character card, including origin, goods, and trade values.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Understand the main goods traded along the Silk Road and their value.
Activity 2

Mapping the Challenges

Students will analyze maps of the Silk Road to identify geographical challenges and how traders adapted to them.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Study maps of the Silk Road, noting mountain ranges, deserts, and bodies of water.
2. Identify challenges these geographical features posed to traders.
3. Research how traders adapted to these challenges (e.g., routes, technologies).
4. Write a report summarizing the geographical challenges and adaptations.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA map analysis report detailing geographical challenges and adaptations made by traders.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Analyze the impact of geographical factors on trade routes.
Activity 3

Cultural Crossroads

Students will research and present on the cultural exchange that occurred along the Silk Road, focusing on the spread of religions, languages, and artistic styles.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Choose a cultural aspect (religion, language, art) to focus on.
2. Research how this aspect spread along the Silk Road.
3. Identify examples of cultural blending or adaptation.
4. Create a presentation to share your findings.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA presentation (e.g., slideshow, video) showcasing the cultural exchange along the Silk Road.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Evaluate the cultural effects of the Silk Road.
Activity 4

Societal Case Study

Students will select a specific society along the Silk Road and investigate how it benefited from or adapted to trade, considering economic, social, and political impacts.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Choose a society along the Silk Road (e.g., Samarkand, Chang'an).
2. Research the society's economic, social, and political interactions with Silk Road trade.
3. Analyze how the society benefited from or adapted to trade.
4. Write a case study report summarizing your findings.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA case study report on a selected society, detailing its benefits and adaptations related to Silk Road trade.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Assess how different societies benefited from or adapted to trade.
Activity 5

Innovation Timeline

Students will investigate the spread of a specific idea, technology, or artistic style along the Silk Road, tracing its origin, dissemination, and impact on different cultures.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Choose an idea, technology, or artistic style (e.g., paper-making, Buddhism, silk weaving).
2. Research its origin and how it spread along the Silk Road.
3. Create a timeline showing its dissemination and impact on different cultures.
4. Make the timeline interactive with images, text, and videos.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityAn interactive timeline showcasing the spread of an idea, technology, or artistic style.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Investigate the exchange of ideas, technologies and artistic styles.
Activity 6

Silk Road Survival Guide

Students will research the various risks and challenges faced by traders on the Silk Road, such as bandits, weather, and disease, and explore the strategies they used to mitigate these risks.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Research the risks and challenges faced by Silk Road traders.
2. Identify strategies traders used to mitigate these risks.
3. Organize the information into a survival guide format.
4. Include practical advice and illustrations.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA survival guide for Silk Road traders, outlining the risks and strategies for overcoming them.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Identify the risks and challenges of Silk Road trade and how traders dealt with them.
Activity 7

Cities & Empires

Students will examine how the Silk Road contributed to the growth and prosperity of cities and empires along its routes, focusing on economic, political, and cultural factors.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Choose two cities or empires along the Silk Road (e.g., Rome, Xi'an).
2. Research how the Silk Road contributed to their economic, political, and cultural development.
3. Compare and contrast the Silk Road's impact on each.
4. Write a comparative analysis report.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA comparative analysis of two cities or empires, highlighting the Silk Road's impact on their growth.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Explain the Silk Road's contribution to the growth of cities and empires.
Activity 8

The Fading Road

Students will investigate the decline of the Silk Road and its impact on societies that had become dependent on it, considering economic, social, and political consequences.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Research the factors that led to the decline of the Silk Road.
2. Select a society that was heavily dependent on the Silk Road.
3. Analyze the economic, social, and political consequences of the decline on that society.
4. Create a short documentary-style video presenting your findings.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA documentary-style video exploring the decline of the Silk Road and its consequences on dependent societies.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Analyze the effects of the Silk Road's decline on dependent societies.
🏆

Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Silk Road Merchant Profile Rubric

Category 1

Merchant Profile Creation

Focuses on the student's ability to accurately research, clearly articulate, and creatively present a merchant profile relevant to Silk Road trade.
Criterion 1

Accuracy of Information

Accuracy of Information: How accurately and thoroughly does the profile represent the origin, production, and demand for the chosen good?

Exemplary
4 Points

Demonstrates exceptional accuracy and depth of understanding regarding the origin, production, and demand for the chosen good. Shows innovative insights and goes beyond basic information.

Proficient
3 Points

Demonstrates accurate and thorough understanding of the origin, production, and demand for the chosen good.

Developing
2 Points

Shows emerging understanding of the origin, production, and demand for the chosen good, with some inaccuracies or omissions.

Beginning
1 Points

Shows initial understanding of the origin, production, and demand for the chosen good, but contains significant inaccuracies or lacks essential details.

Criterion 2

Clarity and Detail of Merchant Profile

Clarity and Detail of Merchant Profile: How clearly and comprehensively does the merchant profile detail the merchant's origin, goods traded, and trade values?

Exemplary
4 Points

Presents a highly detailed and exceptionally clear merchant profile, creatively showcasing the merchant's origin, goods traded, and trade values with innovative flair.

Proficient
3 Points

Presents a detailed and clear merchant profile, showcasing the merchant's origin, goods traded, and trade values effectively.

Developing
2 Points

Presents a merchant profile with some details about the merchant's origin, goods traded, and trade values, but clarity is lacking in some areas.

Beginning
1 Points

Presents a vague and incomplete merchant profile with minimal details about the merchant's origin, goods traded, and trade values.

Criterion 3

Presentation Quality

Presentation Quality: How well is the merchant profile presented as a character card, including visual appeal and organization?

Exemplary
4 Points

The character card is visually stunning and exceptionally well-organized, demonstrating sophisticated design principles and enhancing the overall impact.

Proficient
3 Points

The character card is visually appealing and well-organized, enhancing the overall presentation.

Developing
2 Points

The character card is adequately presented, but lacks visual appeal or has some organizational issues.

Beginning
1 Points

The character card is poorly presented, lacking visual appeal and organization.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning
Question 1

How has your understanding of the interconnectedness of the world changed as a result of this project?

Text
Required
Question 2

Which activity challenged you the most, and what did you learn from overcoming that challenge?

Text
Required
Question 3

To what extent do you agree that the Silk Road had a lasting impact on the world?

Scale
Required
Question 4

If you could travel back in time and be a trader on the Silk Road, what is one thing you would do differently, and why?

Text
Required
Question 5

What is one thing you learned about a different culture or society that surprised you?

Text
Required