Join China History Podcast host and creator Laszlo Montgomery as he offers a brief and easy to understand overview of China’s massive One Belt One Road (OBOR) global infrastructure development project. Also known as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), this project, announced in 2013 comprises a land route or “Belt” referred to as the Silk Road Economic Belt. The “Road” refers to the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

The project builds on the ancient Silk Road trade routes that once connected China to the Mediterranean, a path famously traveled by Marco Polo. The inspiration for the Maritime Silk Road comes from the routes traveled by Ming Dynasty diplomat, admiral and adventurer Zheng He.

This course will explain modern usages of the historical Ancient Silk Roads in the context of the Silk Roads history that unfolded from the Western Han Dynasty clear through to the Song. Both the modern BRI and the Silk Roads of antiquity spanned the distances stretching from China to Europe, and in the case of the BRI, far beyond.

Already a news story that is discussed throughout the world media, the One Belt One Road / Belt and Road Initiative will continue to remain front and center in geopolitical discussions in the decades to come. This course will offer you a good background understanding of the main points and the ancient history that drives the spirit of this most ambitious 21st century infrastructure project in all of Chinese history.