The Silk Road

Covering 5,000 miles, passing through 13 countries and crossing some of the most dramatic landscapes on the planet, this is the fascinating story of the lucrative trade route which changed the course of civilisation forever. In this extraordinary series, Dr Sam Willis explores how the fortunes of the West were shaped by the East, beginning with the story of a Chinese Emperor who was so desperate to protect his lands against his enemies that he reached out beyond his borders into the unknown, for one of the most important game changers in human history - horses. And in return for these legendary steeds, the Emperor was willing to trade the most precious material in his world, silk.