Question

Do you remember studying about the Silk Route in Grade 7? How was India connected with it? Can you recollect China’s contact with India with reference to Buddhism that you studied in Grade 7?

Answer 1

India's Connection with the Silk Route

• India was connected to the Silk Route through both land and sea trade routes.
• Through the Silk Route, Indian merchants traded spices, cotton textiles, ivory, precious stones, and handicrafts with Central Asia, China, and Europe.
• The Silk Route also helped in the exchange of ideas, culture, and religions.

China’s Contact with India through Buddhism

• Buddhism spread from India to China through the Silk Route.
• Chinese pilgrims such as Faxian and Xuanzang visited India to study Buddhism and collect Buddhist scriptures.
• They carried these teachings back to China, helping Buddhism spread there.