This travel guide to the Silk Road takes you back to an era when camels and yaks trudged along the road bearing burdens of exotic luxuries such as Chinese silks bound for Europe, and European glass on its way to China.  Other goods among the array included trade staples like tea and salt.

 Directions for projects–from how to tie a Gordian Knot to how to make Central Asian Lagman Noodles, are also part of the useful knowledge in this book.   “Words to Know,”  in highlighted text boxes, and maps and illustrations help to make each subject easy to understand.

History, ecology, food, storytelling, and the evolution of the road over the years are covered.  The index, web sites, and glossary of books on the subject invite readers to further explore this trade route that brought goods, culture, and conquest as well to the countries it passed through.