Questions regarding Ancient China(Homework help needed).?

Question

(1)Why was silk trade so important to the Ancient Chinese civilization? (2) How did the word, "mountain", originate? (3) Where were the different places silk was transported?

Answer 1

I can take a stab at the first...the silk trade brought China into contact with the outside world, and indeed inspired curiosity in the Han and many other dynasties. The Han were so fascinated by the Romans who were buying their silk they actually mounted a military expedition against the Parthians in an attempt to establish direct contacts(which may not have gone over well...to the Chinese, diplomacy with foreigners uniformly involved Chinese recognition of the foreign ruler as though he were ruling in China's stead, as well as a demand of tribute.) Naturally, Parthia, who had rocky relations with Rome and made a pretty penny being the middleman, didn't take kindly to this and soundly defeated the Chinese, who at the time were unaccustomed with their military tactics, having never fought cataphracts.

I believe the Tang embroiled themselves in the middle east for a similar reason as well, but they were defeated in battle by the Arabs. Later, the Ming financed Zheng He's sea expedition(as well as a few others) to bring back information about the outside world. But the Emperor responsible died young and his successors lacked his vision and turned inward...

Answer 2

It was important for the economy of China:
Silk fabric was first developed in ancient China, possibly as early as 6000 BCE and definitely by 3000 BCE. Legend gives credit to a Chinese empress, Xi Ling-Shi (Hsi-Ling-Shih, Lei-Tus). Though first reserved for the Emperors of China, its use spread gradually through Chinese culture both geographically and socially. From there, silken garments began to reach regions throughout Asia. Silk rapidly became a popular luxury fabric in the many areas accessible to Chinese merchants, because of its texture and lustre. Because of the high demand for the fabric, silk was one of the staples of international trade prior to industrialization.

Perhaps the first evidence of the silk trade is that of an Egyptian mummy of 1070 BC. Ultimately the silk trade reached as far as the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, Europe, and North Africa. This trade was so extensive that the major set of trade routes between Europe and Asia has become known as the Silk Road.

The Emperors of China strove to keep the knowledge of sericulture secret from other nations, in order to maintain the Chinese monopoly on its production. This effort had mixed success. Sericulture reached Korea around 200 BCE, about the first half of the 1st century CE in ancient Khotan (Hill 2003, Appendix A), and by CE 300 the practice had been established in India.
Question 3 and more information on the silk trade at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silk#China

Sorry I cannot help you with question 2, I have searched but cannot find anything relating to the origins of the word mountain.
More than likely come from the Latin or Spanish language, but that's a guess.

Answer 3

1) The Silk Road was what connected China with the rest of the world.
2) huh? If you're asking how the word mountain in Chinese formed, its because the character itself is a pictograph and when you draw mountains out, there are three peaks, and therefore the Chinese word has three lines sticking out.
3) Middle Eastern countries.

Answer 4

china or korea?