You will be expected to answer three questions in three hours.

Answers must focus on examples drawn from any part or parts of the first millennium of the Common Era.

Extensive use of the same material in more than one answer will be penalised.

1. To what extent does the designation "Silk Roads" represent what moved across central Eurasia during the first millennium?
2. Which aspects of first-millennium Silk Roads geography had the greatest bearing on historical events?
3. For what reasons did empires in the first millennium seek control of the Silk Roads?
4. Do you agree that the history of the first-millennium Silk Roads is most usefully characterised as the interaction of steppe and sown?
5. Evaluate the historical consequences of one or more permanent migrations within or into the region of the Silk Roads during the first millennium.
6. How did those who controlled the Silk Roads make money out of them during the first millennium?
7. Compare the transmission of two technologies along the Silk Roads during the first millennium.
8. Assess the significance of religious change in two Silk Road societies during the latter part of the first millennium.

OR

For a religion of your choice, identify the factors that enabled it to spread in the regions of the Silk Roads during the first millennium.

9. In what circumstances did Silk Road societies fight each other during the first millennium?
10. What limitations would a lack of non-written evidence place on our understanding of the Silk Roads?

Notes

• This is the first time this module has been taught, so there are not yet any past papers. What you have here is a collection of the kind of questions you are likely to be asked. We will talk before Easter about whether there should be another couple of questions.
• Unlike some other modules, you do not have to assess the whole period. You may specialise, which I hope will give you opportunities to pursue your individual interests.
• Having said that, none of the questions can be answered at even the most basic passing level without a good knowledge of more than one specific case.