The course "The Silk Road – The Path to the Heart of Ancient Chinese Culture" will invite you to walk along the famous historical route that connected East and West, and explore the rich culture and unforgettable heritage of the ancient Chinese Empire.

During the journey, we will spotlight the glorious golden age of various Chinese dynasties, and delve into the world of revolutionary inventions that emerged from China and dramatically advanced human civilization. We will uncover the ways in which the rich Chinese culture influenced and was influenced by encounters with other cultures, following the movement of goods and knowledge along the important trade axis of the Silk Road.

The course will allow us to appreciate the important contributions of the Chinese Empire to the advancement of humanity, both in the field of technological and scientific inventions and innovations, and in the fields of craftsmanship, art, and medicine. We will see how other cultures absorbed and were influenced by these impressive Chinese achievements, and at the same time deepen our understanding of how exposure to foreign values and customs through trade influenced Chinese society itself.

During our studies, we will examine the central roles of the Silk Road in the development of world trade, in the transfer of extensive cultural knowledge, and in promoting foreign relations and international diplomacy. We will review how the connections and conflicts around the Silk Road reshaped global power relations, and see how its influences continue to be tangible even in the modern era of globalization.

Alongside all these, we will nurture and develop critical thinking skills and deep historical-cultural analysis, and learn to appreciate the crucial contribution of Chinese culinary tradition to world food culture.

* The course material will be tailored to the age of the learners.