Medicine on the Silk Road
Chinese and Tibetan physicians such as those pictured here sold their medicinal herbs throughout Central Asia. As part of the transaction, a diagnosis was made, curative substances pounded and mixed, and a customized medicine was produced on the spot.

Cultural exchanges with the Chinese
From ancient to modern times, Silk Road cities were centers of vibrant cultural exchange, to which the Chinese contributed greatly. In the early days of the Silk Road, precious silks were carried by camel caravans from China and sold for gold to luxury-seeking Rome. Later, the Chinese brought paper, gunpowder and compasses to the world market.

Prokudin-Gorskii, Sergei Mikhailovich. Physicians, 1906-1911. 1 negative (3 frames) : glass, b&w, three-color separation. Library of Congress, Prokudin-Gorskii Collection.