The si̇lk road during the tang dynasty: Cultural interaction between Turkestan, China and India

This thesis examines the role of the Silk Road in cultural interactions between Turkistan, China, and India during the Tang Dynasty. The Silk Road served not only as a trade route but also as a platform for the exchange of ideas, religions, and scientific and technological knowledge, facilitating the establishment of strong and lasting connections between these three regions. The Tang Dynasty represents one of the most vibrant and influential periods of the Silk Road, during which cultural exchanges left a profound impact on the social structures, religious beliefs, and scientific developments of the regions involved. The study explores the scale of trade along the Silk Road and its effects on cultural and scientific interactions, focusing on how the mutual influences between Turkistan, China, and India shaped the cultural richness of these areas. Additionally, the thesis examines the impact of these interactions on mythological concepts, medical practices, belief systems, and modes of thought. This research underscores that the Silk Road was not merely an economic route but also played a crucial role in the dissemination of cultural and scientific advancements. The Tang Dynasty marks the pinnacle of these interactions, and the thesis further assesses the contributions of the Silk Road to world heritage, whose effects continue to resonate to this day. Keywords: India, Silk Road, China, Central Asia, Cultural Interaction, Mythology, Philosophy.