The Silk Road Season 1 Episode 1 Episode 1

In the first episode of his series tracing the story of the most famous trade route in history, Sam begins his journey in Venice and explores how its Renaissance architecture and art has been shaped by the East and by thousands of exchanges along the Silk Road.From Venice, Sam travels to China's ancient capital Xian. Here, Sam's story takes him back in time, to reveal the tale of an Emperor who was so desperate for bigger horses to help protect his borders that he struck one of the most significant trade deals in human history: he wanted war horses, so he gave the most precious material in the world, silk.From this single deal, a network of trading paths was carved out across thousands of miles by merchants, traders, envoys, pilgrims, and travellers. It is known to us today as the Silk Road.