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Episode 1: It All Started with a Horse

 In this first episode of the Silk Road Talk podcast, we will talk about horses, and in particular ‘heavenly horses’ of the Han Dynasty. The demand for these horse kickstarted the trade over the northern routes of the overland Silk Road. What were heavenly horses? Where did they come from? and what were the reasons for their popularity?

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Source: Michael Gunther, Gansu provincial museum

Galloping Horses discovered in Eastern Han Tombs
Source: He Zhiguo. 2008. Study and Comparison of the Chronology of the Bronze Galloping Horse excavated at Leitai, Wuwei City, Gansu Province (甘肃武威市雷台出土铜奔马年代考辩). Kaogu 4: 86

Eastern Han Ceramic Prancing Horse
Source: Flickr (ellenm1)


Han Bronze Horse with Lead Saddle
Source: Wikimedia (PericlesofAthens)

Tang Dynasty Ceramic Horse
Source: Flickr (Forever Wiser)

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