The Silk Road
The Silk Road
PG-13
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LATEST EPISODE
S1 E1: Venice, Gateway to the Orient
On Demand
Just like Marco Polo ages ago, we begin in Venice, Italy. On our journey, we will witness mosaics of St. Mark's Basilica that reveal links connecting Venice with distant lands in Asia. We will taste Venetian cuisine, and visit an Armenian monastery packed with manuscripts written in all languages.
26 Min
•
2017
•
PG-13
•
Documentary
•
Available with Freestream
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Season 1
- Season 1
S1 E15: Xi'an, The Capital of the Sons of Heaven
On Demand
Alfred arrives in Xi'an, in the province of Shaanxi, where the caravans of the Silk Road ended their long journey. Alfred ends his journey with a visit to the tomb of Qin Shi Huangdi, the first emperor to rule over a unified China. His terracotta army looks as if it is standing guard over him, ensuring he remains undisturbed for all eternity.
26 Min
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PG-13
•
Available with Freestream
S1 E14: Lanzhou, On the Yellow River
On Demand
Alfred travels to Liqian, at the narrowest point of the Hexi Corridor. Legend has it that Liqian is where the descendants of Crassus' lost legions ended up. From there, he goes to the sprawling industrial metropolis of Lanzhou, on the Yellow River, and samples an essential ingredient of Chinese culture - noodles.
26 Min
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PG-13
•
Available with Freestream
S1 E13: Taklamakan, The Forbidden Oasis
On Demand
In ancient times, caravanners considered themselves safely in China only after they had first successfully negotiated the treacherous Taklamakan desert. In the dunes of Dunhuang, you will meet a camel breeder, and stretching outward from Dunhuang, witness The Valley of the 1000 Buddhas.
26 Min
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PG-13
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Available with Freestream
S1 E12: Gobi, The Forbidden Oasis
On Demand
An Uyghur family invites you into their home where you will learn about their way of life. Gaochang was once an important waystation on the Silk Road and famous center of learning. You will also visit the city of Turpan, in the heart of the desert, and tour its ingenious water-supply system.
26 Min
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PG-13
•
Available with Freestream
S1 E11: Kashgar, The Gateway to the Middle Kingdom
On Demand
Kashgar is our point of entry into China. Covering one-sixth of China's surface area, Kashgar is home to the Uyghurs, an ethnic minority descended from Turkic peoples. When trade on the Silk Road was as its height, Kashgar was a major hub for caravans traveling to India or Central Asia.
26 Min
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PG-13
•
Available with Freestream
S1 E10: Kyrgyzstan, The Freedom of the Steppes
On Demand
Osh is first on the list in Kyrgyzstan. Saunter down the aisles of the city's bazaar and it will soon become clear to you that true Kyrgyzstan is to be found on the steppes and in the mountains. Discover Kyrgyz identity from a student who imparts local legends at the foot of the "Throne of Solomon."
26 Min
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PG-13
•
Available with Freestream
S1 E9: Fergana, A Central Asian Melting-Pot
On Demand
The modernity of life in Uzbekistan's capital of Tashkent is readily apparent, as is the incredible mix of ethnic groups that exist here. Visit a silk factory, a must for anyone retracing the Silk Road, then travel the age-old route through the mountains to Kyrgyzstan, the land of the nomads.
26 Min
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PG-13
•
Available with Freestream
S1 E8: Samarkand, Pearl Among Cities
On Demand
Some used to say Samarkand in central Uzbekistan was the center of the world. Follow the ancient "Royal Road" to the city associated with the great Turco-Mongol warrior Timur, visit his mausoleum, and learn about the imposing public square of Registan with the help of a local historian.
26 Min
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PG-13
•
Available with Freestream
S1 E7: Bukhara, Light of Transoxiana
On Demand
Halfway along the ancient Silk Road we arrive in Uzbekistan, first visiting the glorious city of Bukhara, the hometown of Avicenna, and renowned artists and craftsmen. The city's bazaar is the beating heart of the city, and a bubbling melting-pot of cultures where all manor of items are sold.
26 Min
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PG-13
•
Available with Freestream
S1 E6: Yazd, The Zoroastrian Fire Temple
On Demand
Marvel at the pleasure gardens of Fin in the oasis of Kashan. In the nearby mountains, visit the temple of Chak Chak and become introduced to the ancestral religion of Zoroastrianism. In the sacred city of Yazd, visit a zurkhaneh, or a "house of strength," where athletes engage in training sessions.
26 Min
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PG-13
•
Available with Freestream
S1 E5: Iran: Assassins, Emperors, and Magi
On Demand
Begin in Iran's Silk Road office where it is made clear that Iran has a goal of linking all countries along the illustrious road together. Then, high above sea level, explore the ruins of Hassan-i Sabbah fortress, the hideout of a movement known as "Hashshashins," essentially drug smoking assassins.
26 Min
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PG-13
•
Available with Freestream
S1 E4: Tabriz, Capital of Merchants
On Demand
Enter the city that once was the core of the entire Silk Road in Persia: Tabriz, Iran. Find your way into the city's bazaar, the finest in the country, and wander through its 22-mile labyrinth. Also, meet Dr. Faribouz Esmaeli, the heart of this architectural gem, who oversaw its restoration.
26 Min
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PG-13
•
Available with Freestream
S1 E3: Anatolia, The Caravans of Asia Minor
On Demand
At the heart of the Anatolian plateau, visit the first of the Caravanserai that once dotted trading stations long the ancient Silk Road. The Caravanserai at Aksaray is the perfect example of architecture representing the Seljuq dynasty, the first empire in the region beginning in the 10th century.
26 Min
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PG-13
•
Available with Freestream
S1 E2: Bosphorus, Astride Two Worlds
On Demand
At the edge of the European continent, Alfred de Montesquiou enters Turkish territory through the city of Edirne to discover Ottoman architectural wonders and the traditional local sport of oil-wrestling in which men are doused in olive oil before each bout.
26 Min
•
PG-13
•
Available with Freestream
S1 E1: Venice, Gateway to the Orient
On Demand
Just like Marco Polo ages ago, we begin in Venice, Italy. On our journey, we will witness mosaics of St. Mark's Basilica that reveal links connecting Venice with distant lands in Asia. We will taste Venetian cuisine, and visit an Armenian monastery packed with manuscripts written in all languages.
26 Min
•
PG-13
•
Available with Freestream