The Silk Road: An Ancient Route in Modern Times

The Silk Road: An Ancient Route in Modern Times



I’ve
always been attracted to places with rich histories and
cultures. The Silk Road
is one of them, as the cultural intersection between East and West.
It was not only where goods were traded but ideas too; religion,
science and languages were exchanged, swapped and shared. Renowned
German geographer Ferdinand von Richthofen gave this path the name
“Silk Road” in 1877 because silk was the main produce to be traded
along it. Today, many historic buildings and monuments stand along
the cities of this fabled road and its legacy is reflected in the
diversity of cultures, languages, customs and religions of those
living across Central Asia.

This project is a personal journey into the myths and legends of
the Silk Road – or what is left of it. I wanted to explore the
connection between past and present by following ancient routes in
modern times. My journey began in Baku, Azerbaijan, where after a
30-hour journey on a cargo ship I crossed the Caspian
Sea
and reached Aktau in Kazakhstan. Following that, I
traversed the land via trains, shared taxis and buses across
Uzbekistan
and Kyrgyzstan. I passed through through Nukus, Khiva, Bukhara,

Samarkand
, Tashkent, Bishkek and Karakol, before reaching my
final destination; the Kazakhstani city of
Almaty
.

@rachrac | www.rachelecaretti.com

Discover More
Samarkand, Uzbekistan