Alfred de Montesquiou
Host
Series
Watch The Silk Road (2017) Online
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Synopsis
Alfred de Montesquiou, a war correspondent for the Associated Press news agency and a journalist for Paris Match – for which he has covered most of the Arab Spring revolutions – will be our knowledge broker along the Silk Road, the mythical network of trade routes that for centuries linked the Far East to the West. Follow in the footsteps of illustrious predecessors, from Alexander the Great to Marco Polo. Journey through time, encountering specialists, historians, or just everyday people with a passion who will help you grasp the past and present identities of those countries. From Bursa in Turkey to Xi’an in China, Alfred guides and accompanies you in this fresh and original way to discover History.
Episodes
Season 1
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- 1. Italy: VeniceNow viewing2017-01-1026m7.0Our adventurer begins his journey in Venice, just like Marco Polo, the most famous voyager to have proceeded down this ancient route. The many cultural influences are immediately obvious: The architecture and the mosaics of St Mark’s Basilica reveal the links that connect this city with the distant lands of Asia; the textile maker Alberto Bevilacqua recounts the history of the silk trade, while a restaurant owner passionate about gastronomy explains the varied origins of Venetian cuisine. Alfred then shows us a little-known treasure: the Armenian monastery’s library. It is packed with manuscripts in all languages, brought there through the Silk Road.
- 2. Turkey: Bosphorus2017-01-1726m8.0At the edge of the European continent, our guide enters Turkish territory through the city of Edirne. He discovers Ottoman architectural wonders and the traditional local variant of wrestling, in which men are doused in olive oil before bouts. After a stop in Istanbul, the ultimate symbol of the Silk Road, Alfred discovers the city that was once the Ottoman capital, Bursa, and gains an insight into Anatolian culture.
- 3. Turkey: Anatolia, The Caravans of Asia Minor2017-01-2426m8.0At the heart of the Anatolian plateau, our guide visits the first of the caravanserais that dot his journey, as they once dotted the ancient trade routes.
- 4. Iran: Tabriz, Capital of Merchants2017-01-3126m8.0Alfred discovers the north of Iran; enter the city that once was the core of the entire Silk Road in Persia: Tabriz. He heads into the bazaar, the finest in the country, and wanders through its 36km of alleyways and stalls.
- 5. Iran: Assassins, Emperors and Ma2017-02-0726mAlfred learns that Iran has a Silk Road Secretariat. Its representative in the northern city of Qazvin – Hooman Babapoor – explains that the government wishes to develop links between other countries along the illustrious road.
- 6. Iran: Kashan and the Zoroastrian Fire Temple of Yazd2017-02-1426mIn the oasis of Kashan, in central Iran, Alfred marvels at the famous pleasure gardens of Fin that cemented the Persians’ renown. He then discovers Iranian Zoroastrianism in a “house of strength”, whose inhabitants hone both their spirit and their body.
- 7. Uzbekistan: Bukhara2017-02-2126mAlfred arrives in Uzbekistan, at the heart of the ancient Silk Road. He discovers Bukhara the beautiful, dream city for numerous travelers.
- 8. Uzbekistan: Samarkand2017-02-2826mSome used to say Samarkand – in central Uzbekistan – was at the center of the world. Alfred follows the ancient Royal Road to the city – associated with the great Turco-Mongol warrior Timur, who was also famed for his refinement and elegance.
- 9. Uzbekistan: Tachkent2017-03-0726mAlfred is awestruck by the modernity of life in Tashkent, the capital of present-day Uzbekistan and a major central Asian city. There is an incredible mix of ethnic groups in this part of the world.
- 10. Kyrgystan2017-03-1426mOsh is the first place Alfred visits in Kyrgyzstan. He saunters down the aisles of its bazaar, but soon realizes that the real Kyrgyzstan is to be found on the endless steppes and vast mountains, where you lose all notions of boundaries.
- 11. China: Kashgar2017-03-2126mAlfred's point of entry to China is Kashgar, in the Xinjiang region – the biggest in the country. It is home to the Uyghurs, an ethnic minority descended from Turkic peoples.
- 12. China: Gobi2017-03-2826mA Uyghur family invites our guide into their home. He learns about their way of life and growing techniques. Gaochang used to be an important waypoint through the Silk Road and a famous gathering place for scholars.
- 13. China: Dunhuang2017-04-0426mCrossing the Taklamakan desert is a demanding step. And only once the Silk Road caravans made it could they say they truly arrived in China. The Bactrian camel has become emblematic of the region: without it, trade could not have developed along the Silk Road.
- 14. China: Lanzhou2017-04-1126mOur guide travels to Liqian, at the narrowest point of the Hexi Corridor. Legend has it that this is where the descendants of Crassus' lost legions ended up.
- 15. China: Xian2017-04-1826mAlfred arrives in Xi’an - in the province of Shaanxi. The Silk Road caravans used to end their long journey in this millenary city.
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Silk Road available to watch online?
Vidbox does not currently have a legal streaming, rental or purchase option on record for The Silk Road in this region.
How many seasons does The Silk Road have?
The Silk Road has 1 season and 15 episodes.
When did The Silk Road first air?
The Silk Road first aired in 2017.
Is The Silk Road still running?
The Silk Road's status on TMDB is: Ended.
What genre is The Silk Road?
The Silk Road is classified as Documentary.