Steel and silk -- Silk in Roman society -- The Chinese empire and the Xiongnu -- The discovery of the west -- Securing the silk routes -- The Kushan empire -- The Sogdian intermediaries -- Caspian routes and the Crimea -- Black Sea voyages -- The Sarmatians -- The Parthian empire -- Parthia and Rome -- Roman invasion plans for Parthia -- Roman routes to China
Summary
The Roman Empire and the Silk Routes explains Rome's position in the ancient world economy and offers perspective on Roman civilisation and its legacy for modern society
