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The Silk Road stands as one of humanity’s most remarkable achievements in trade, cultural exchange, and international cooperation. This vast network of trade routes operated for more than 1,500 years, from when the Han dynasty of China opened trade in 130 B.C.E. until 1453 C.E. Far more than just a pathway for merchants, the Silk Road created a web of connections that linked diverse civilizations across three continents, facilitating not only commerce but also the exchange of ideas, religions, technologies, and cultural practices that would shape the course of world history.
The largest markets and trading centers along these routes were extraordinary urban centers that served as melting pots of cultures, languages, and traditions. These cities were where East met West, where caravans rested after arduous journeys across deserts and mountains, and where merchants from distant lands negotiated deals that would send goods traveling thousands of miles. Understanding these magnificent trading hubs provides insight into how ancient civilizations connected with one another and how commerce shaped the development of human society.
Understanding the Silk Road Network
The Silk Road extended approximately 6,437 kilometers (4,000 miles) across some of the world’s most formidable landscapes, including the Gobi Desert and the Pamir Mountains. Despite its name suggesting a single route, the Silk Road was actually a complex network of interconnected pathways. Some historians favor the term Silk Routes because it better reflects the many paths taken by traders.
The Silk Road routes included a large network of strategically located trading posts, markets and thoroughfares designed to streamline the transport, exchange, distribution and storage of goods. These routes branched out in multiple directions, with northern and southern paths that bypassed treacherous deserts and mountain ranges, eventually converging at major trading centers where goods changed hands multiple times before reaching their final destinations.
The journey along the Silk Road was rarely undertaken by a single merchant from beginning to end. Few people traveled the entire route, giving rise to a host of middlemen and trading posts along the way. This relay system of trade meant that goods passed through numerous markets and trading centers, with each location adding value and facilitating the movement of merchandise across vast distances.
Chang’an (Xi’an): The Eastern Gateway
The Silk Road began in north-central China in Chang’an (modern Xi’an). This ancient capital served as the primary starting point for caravans heading westward and the final destination for goods arriving from distant lands. Chang’an’s position as the eastern terminus of the Silk Road was no accident—it was carefully chosen based on political power, economic prosperity, and strategic location.
The Magnificent Capital of Empires
Xi’an, or Chang’an as it was called for many centuries, has been a built-up urban area for over 3,000 years, and served as the national capital of feudal China for 1,100 years. It reached its prime during the Han (206 BC-AD 220) and Tang (618-907) dynasties. During these golden ages, Chang’an transformed into one of the world’s most impressive urban centers.
With more than a million inhabitants at its height, Chang’an was among the largest cities in the world and a magnet for foreigners arriving overland. The city’s size and sophistication were unmatched in its era. It was the largest city in the world around 750 CE, as it was home to nearly a million people, with another million who lived just outside its imposing walls.
The Famous Markets of Chang’an
Chang’an’s commercial infrastructure was highly organized and sophisticated. The city featured two major markets that served different purposes and clientele. The East Market targeted the royal family, dignitaries and the elite, and was therefore glutted with luxury goods for sale. The West Market, also known as the Gold Market, catered to international customers, including those from Central Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Korea and Japan.
The city’s western market played an important role in the trade with the West along the Silk Roads to central Asia providing a hub for traders to sell and buy goods. Among the dominant figures in this era were Sogdian merchants from the region of Central Asia, who were vital agents in the transporting and trading of goods to China. These Sogdian traders became so integral to Chang’an’s commercial life that they established permanent communities within the city.
A Cosmopolitan Melting Pot
Located in northwest China, Chang’an (modern Xi’an) served as the gateway to the so-called Silk Road, overland trade routes that linked the prosperous Tang empire with Central, West, and South Asia. Foreign merchants joined Buddhist missionaries, diplomatic envoys, translators, craftsmen, entertainers, and other skilled immigrants to transform Chang’an into a cosmopolitan city.
The diversity of Chang’an’s population was remarkable for its time. Mercantilists from Central Asia, Persia and Arabia – collectively called “Hu merchants” by locals – constituted the largest community of such foreigners, and at certain times numbered several thousand among local residents. These foreign communities brought their customs, religions, and cultural practices, enriching the city’s cultural landscape.
This wealthy, worldly hub offered a ready market for exotic imports, including silver and gold objects, delicate glassware, and even grape wine. The presence of diverse religious communities, including Buddhist monasteries, Taoist temples, Nestorian Christian churches, and Islamic mosques, demonstrated the city’s remarkable tolerance and openness to different beliefs and traditions.
Samarkand: The Pearl of Central Asia
An amazing city at the heart of Central Asia, an important city on the Silk Roads strategically located between China and the Mediterranean. For centuries it’d been a city of trade, renowned for its craft production and scholarly studies. Samarkand’s position made it one of the most crucial trading centers along the entire Silk Road network.
The city experienced dramatic changes throughout its history. The Mongol ruler Genghis Khan had the once vibrant cities of Bukhara and Samarkand burned to the ground after besieging them. However, in 1370 Samarkand saw a revival as the capital of the new Timurid Empire. This revival would usher in one of the city’s most glorious periods.
The Turko-Mongol ruler Timur forcefully moved artisans and intellectuals from across Asia to Samarkand, making it one of the most important trade centers and cultural entrepôts of the Islamic world. This deliberate policy of gathering skilled craftsmen and scholars transformed Samarkand into a center of learning, art, and commerce that rivaled any city in the world.
The city’s architectural splendor and cultural achievements during the Timurid period left a lasting legacy. Magnificent mosques, madrasas, and palaces were constructed, many of which still stand today as testaments to Samarkand’s golden age. The city became renowned for its distinctive blue-tiled buildings and its role as a center of Islamic scholarship and artistic production.
Baghdad: The Abbasid Commercial Hub
By the Umayyad era, Damascus had overtaken Ctesiphon as a major trade center until the Abbasid dynasty built the city of Baghdad, which became the most important city along the silk road. Founded specifically to serve as both an administrative and commercial powerhouse, Baghdad’s strategic location made it an ideal hub for Silk Road trade.
Baghdad was the Abbasid Caliphate capital (762 CE onward)—founded specifically to serve as an administrative and commercial center at the crossroads of major trade routes. The city’s circular design was revolutionary for its time, with markets strategically placed to maximize commercial activity and facilitate the flow of goods and people.
Center of Learning and Commerce
Baghdad was not merely a commercial center but also an intellectual powerhouse. House of Wisdom attracted scholars who translated Greek, Persian, and Indian texts, making Baghdad the intellectual capital of the medieval world. This combination of commercial prosperity and scholarly achievement created a unique environment where trade in goods was accompanied by trade in ideas.
The city’s markets were legendary for their organization and variety. Specialized bazaars catered to different trades and products, with distinct sections for various crafts and commodities. Merchants from across the Islamic world, as well as from Christian Europe and distant Asia, converged on Baghdad’s markets to exchange goods ranging from spices and textiles to precious metals and manuscripts.
Merv: The World’s Largest City
Merv, was a major oasis-city in Central Asia, on the historical Silk Road, located near today’s Mary in Turkmenistan. In the early Islamic period, Merv was the capital of the province of Khorasan, and in the 12th century it was the largest city in the world. This remarkable achievement demonstrates the extraordinary prosperity that Silk Road trade could bring to strategically located cities.
The great prosperity of Merv belongs to the period dating from the 8th to the 13th century. By the 11th century, Merv was a great commercial centre of the Oriental type with a bazaar, shops for artisans, money changers, goldsmiths, weavers, coppersmiths, and potters. The city’s markets were highly specialized, with different sections devoted to various crafts and trades.
Textile Production and Trade
One of Merv’s trademarks was its textile products, silk produced in abundance. The region was also famed for its fine cotton and exports of raw and manufactured products were sent to different lands. This specialization in textile production made Merv particularly important for the silk trade that gave the route its name.
The city’s infrastructure supported its massive commercial operations. It was an administrative and religious centre, containing mosques, madrasas, palaces, and other buildings. This combination of religious, educational, and commercial facilities created a comprehensive urban environment that attracted merchants, scholars, and pilgrims from across the Islamic world and beyond.
Kashgar: The Crossroads of Civilizations
Kashgar, in what is now the Xinjiang region of China, was the gateway to the Silk Road from China. It was strategically located at the crossroads of several trade routes, making it a crucial stop for merchants. The city’s unique position at the foot of the Pamir Mountains gave it control over the high mountain passes that connected China with Central Asia, India, and Persia.
Kashgar was the crossroads location where the northern and southern Silk Road routes reunited after skirting the Taklamakan Desert. This meant that virtually all caravans traveling between China and the West had to pass through Kashgar, making it one of the most important trading centers on the entire route.
A Multicultural Trading Hub
Diverse population included Turkic, Chinese, Indian, and Persian traders, creating a multilingual commercial culture. This extraordinary diversity made Kashgar a true crossroads of civilizations, where merchants speaking different languages and practicing different religions came together to conduct business.
The city’s bazaars were renowned throughout Central Asia for their variety and vitality. Merchants could find goods from across the known world—Chinese silk and porcelain, Indian spices and textiles, Persian carpets and metalwork, and products from the nomadic peoples of the steppes. The constant flow of caravans ensured that Kashgar’s markets were always bustling with activity and filled with exotic merchandise.
Constantinople: The Western Terminus
Historically, Constantinople was a commercial hub and the indispensable route for merchant ships from Black Sea ports. Built at the meeting point of Asia and Europe, it is often considered the terminus of the Asian overland Silk Road. The city’s unique position straddling two continents made it the ultimate destination for goods traveling westward along the Silk Road.
Constantinople survived until 1453 as a continuous trading hub, outlasting every other major Silk Road city’s golden age by centuries. This remarkable longevity testifies to the city’s enduring commercial importance and its ability to adapt to changing political and economic circumstances.
Constantinople’s markets served as the final distribution point for Asian goods entering Europe. Silk, spices, precious stones, and other luxury items that had traveled thousands of miles across deserts and mountains found their ultimate buyers in Constantinople’s bustling bazaars. From there, Venetian and Genoese merchants would transport these goods throughout Europe, completing the final leg of their extraordinary journey.
The Goods That Shaped Commerce
The variety of goods traded along the Silk Road was staggering, encompassing everything from luxury items to everyday necessities. While silk gave the route its name, it was far from the only commodity that traveled these ancient highways.
Luxury Textiles and Fabrics
Merchants carried silk from China to Europe, where it dressed royalty and wealthy patrons. Chinese silk was prized throughout the ancient world for its beauty, softness, and the skill required to produce it. For centuries, China maintained a monopoly on silk production, making it one of the most valuable commodities in international trade.
Other textiles also played important roles in Silk Road commerce. Cotton fabrics from India, woolen textiles from Central Asia and the Mediterranean, and various types of brocades and embroidered cloths all found eager markets along the route. Each region specialized in particular types of textile production, creating a complex web of trade in fabrics and clothing.
Spices and Aromatics
Spices were among the most valuable commodities traded along the Silk Road. Pepper, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and other aromatic spices from South and Southeast Asia commanded high prices in markets throughout Eurasia. These spices were used not only for flavoring food but also for medicinal purposes and in religious ceremonies.
Incense and perfumes were equally important trade goods. Frankincense and myrrh from Arabia, musk from Central Asia, and various aromatic woods and resins traveled along the Silk Road to satisfy demand from religious institutions, royal courts, and wealthy individuals across three continents.
Precious Metals and Stones
Gold, silver, and precious stones were constantly in motion along the Silk Road. From Rome and later from Christian kingdoms, wools, gold, and silver traveled eastward. These precious metals served both as trade goods in their own right and as currency for purchasing other commodities.
Gemstones from various regions—rubies and sapphires from Central Asia, jade from China, pearls from the Persian Gulf—were highly prized and commanded premium prices in distant markets. Skilled craftsmen in major trading centers would work these raw materials into jewelry and decorative objects, adding value and creating new trade opportunities.
Porcelain and Ceramics
Porcelain, silk, paper, and gunpowder traveled from East to West. Chinese porcelain was particularly prized for its translucent quality, delicate appearance, and durability. The secret of porcelain production remained a Chinese monopoly for centuries, making these ceramics extremely valuable in Western markets.
Other ceramic products, including glazed pottery and decorative tiles, also traveled along the Silk Road. Persian and Central Asian potters developed distinctive styles that influenced ceramic production across Eurasia, creating a rich tradition of artistic exchange through pottery and tilework.
Revolutionary Technologies
Commodities such as paper and gunpowder, both invented by the Chinese during the Han Dynasty, had obvious and lasting impacts on culture and history in the West. They were also among the most-traded items between the East and West. These technological innovations would transform societies far from their place of origin.
Paper was invented in China during the 3rd century B.C., and its use spread via the Silk Road, arriving first in Samarkand in around A.D. The spread of papermaking technology revolutionized record-keeping, literature, and administration throughout Eurasia, making written communication more accessible and affordable.
The Infrastructure of Trade
The success of Silk Road commerce depended on sophisticated infrastructure that supported merchants and their caravans as they traveled across vast distances.
Caravanserais: Oases of Safety
Over time, large inns called caravanserais cropped up to house travelling merchants. These establishments provided essential services for traveling merchants, offering secure accommodation, stabling for animals, storage for goods, and opportunities to rest and resupply before continuing their journeys.
Caravanserais were typically built at regular intervals along major routes, usually a day’s journey apart. They featured thick walls for security, large courtyards for caravans, and rooms for merchants. Many also included mosques, bathhouses, and markets, creating self-contained communities that served the needs of traveling traders.
Organized Bazaars and Markets
The great trading cities developed highly organized market systems. Various Khans (caravanserais) like Khan Al Harir and Khan Al Sabun and hammams supported this bustling Bazar through offering services to traders and travellers from around the world. Markets were often divided by product type, with specialized sections for different trades and commodities.
These organized bazaars facilitated trade by bringing together buyers and sellers, establishing standard weights and measures, and providing spaces for negotiation and deal-making. Money changers operated in the markets, allowing merchants to exchange currencies from different regions. Guilds of craftsmen and merchants regulated quality and prices, ensuring fair dealing and maintaining standards.
Banking and Credit Systems
Sophisticated financial systems developed to support long-distance trade. Merchants used letters of credit and bills of exchange to avoid carrying large amounts of precious metals across dangerous territories. Banking families established branches in multiple cities, allowing traders to deposit funds in one location and withdraw them in another.
These financial innovations reduced the risks associated with long-distance trade and facilitated larger commercial transactions. Trust networks among merchant communities, often based on family ties or shared religious affiliations, provided the foundation for these credit systems.
Cultural and Religious Exchange
Religion and ideas spread along the Silk Road just as fluidly as goods. The movement of merchants, missionaries, and pilgrims along these routes facilitated unprecedented cultural exchange between distant civilizations.
The Spread of Buddhism
During the 5th and 6th centuries CE, merchants played a large role in the spread of religion, in particular Buddhism. As a result, merchants supported Buddhist monasteries along the Silk Road, and in return, the Buddhists gave the merchants somewhere to stay as they traveled from city to city. This mutually beneficial relationship helped Buddhism spread from India across Central Asia to China and beyond.
These communities became centers of literacy and culture with well-organized marketplaces, lodging, and storage. Buddhist monasteries served not only religious functions but also practical purposes, providing education, medical care, and support for travelers and local communities.
Islamic Expansion and Influence
The rise of Islam in the 7th century CE transformed the Silk Road. Muslim merchants became dominant figures in long-distance trade, establishing commercial networks that stretched from Spain to China. Islamic law provided frameworks for commercial transactions, contracts, and dispute resolution that facilitated trade across cultural boundaries.
Major trading cities became centers of Islamic learning and culture. Mosques, madrasas, and libraries were established in cities along the route, creating a shared intellectual culture that transcended political boundaries. Scholars traveled along the Silk Road, exchanging knowledge about mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and philosophy.
Christian Communities and Nestorian Missions
The Silk Road gave rise to the clusters of military states of nomadic origins in North China, ushered the Nestorian, Manichaean, Buddhist, and later Islamic religions into Central Asia and China. Nestorian Christianity, a branch of Christianity that developed in Persia, spread eastward along the Silk Road, establishing communities in Central Asia and China.
These Christian communities maintained connections with their co-religionists in the West while adapting to local cultures and conditions. Archaeological evidence reveals the presence of Christian churches and communities in cities throughout Central Asia, demonstrating the religious diversity that characterized Silk Road trading centers.
The Mongol Impact on Silk Road Trade
The Mongol expansion throughout the Asian continent from around 1207 to 1360 helped bring political stability and re-established the Silk Road (via Karakorum and Khanbaliq). It also brought an end to the dominance of the Islamic Caliphate over world trade. The Mongol Empire’s vast territorial control created unprecedented security and stability along the Silk Road.
At the end of its glory, the routes brought about the largest continental empire ever, the Mongol Empire, with its political centres strung along the Silk Road (Beijing) in North China, Karakorum in central Mongolia, Samarkand in Transoxiana, Tabriz in Northern Iran. This political unification facilitated trade by reducing the number of political boundaries merchants had to cross and establishing consistent regulations across vast territories.
Because the Mongols came to control the trade routes, trade circulated throughout the region, though they never abandoned their nomadic lifestyle. The Mongol period saw increased trade volumes and the famous journey of Marco Polo, whose accounts would introduce Europeans to the wonders of the East and inspire future exploration.
The Decline of the Silk Road
The Silk Road’s importance gradually diminished due to several interconnected factors. Political instability following the collapse of the Mongol Empire made overland routes more dangerous and less reliable. The rise of maritime trade routes offered faster and often safer alternatives for moving goods between East and West.
The Ottoman Empire closed off trade with the West in 1453 C.E. This closure of traditional routes prompted European powers to seek alternative pathways to Asian markets, ultimately leading to the Age of Exploration and the discovery of sea routes around Africa and across the Atlantic.
Some research suggests that the Black Death, which devastated Europe in the late 1340s C.E., likely spread from Asia along the Silk Road. This devastating pandemic disrupted trade and contributed to the decline of some trading centers, though it was far from the only factor in the Silk Road’s eventual obsolescence.
Legacy and Modern Relevance
It is hard to overstate the importance of the Silk Road on history. The exchange of information gave rise to new technologies and innovations that would change the world. The cultural, technological, and commercial exchanges facilitated by the Silk Road shaped the development of civilizations across Eurasia.
Towns along the route grew into multicultural cities. This legacy of cosmopolitanism and cultural exchange continues to influence the regions that once hosted these great trading centers. Many modern cities in Central Asia, the Middle East, and China trace their origins to Silk Road trading posts and markets.
UNESCO World Heritage Recognition
Today, parts of the Silk Road are listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. This recognition acknowledges the historical significance of these routes and the cities that developed along them. Archaeological sites, ancient cities, and cultural monuments from the Silk Road era attract scholars and tourists from around the world.
Preservation efforts aim to protect these invaluable historical resources while making them accessible to contemporary audiences. Museums dedicated to Silk Road history have been established in many former trading centers, showcasing artifacts and telling the stories of the merchants, travelers, and communities that made this remarkable network of exchange possible.
The Belt and Road Initiative
In recent years, China has revived the idea of the Silk Road through the “Belt and Road Initiative,” developing overland and maritime routes to boost connectivity. The corridors run through more than 60 countries. This modern interpretation of the Silk Road concept aims to create new infrastructure and trade connections across Eurasia.
While the modern initiative differs significantly from the historical Silk Road, it draws inspiration from the ancient routes’ success in connecting distant regions and facilitating economic exchange. The historical precedent of the Silk Road demonstrates both the potential benefits and challenges of creating transcontinental trade networks.
Lessons from the Silk Road Markets
The great markets and trading centers of the Silk Road offer valuable lessons for understanding historical globalization and cultural exchange. These cities demonstrated that commerce could bring together people from vastly different backgrounds, creating spaces where cultural differences were bridged through mutual economic interest.
The success of these trading centers depended on several key factors: strategic location, political stability, infrastructure development, and cultural tolerance. Cities that could provide security for merchants, facilitate commercial transactions, and accommodate diverse populations thrived as trading hubs. Those that failed to maintain these conditions often declined or disappeared entirely.
The Silk Road also demonstrates the interconnectedness of economic, cultural, and technological exchange. Goods, ideas, religions, and innovations traveled together along these routes, with each type of exchange reinforcing the others. The merchants who carried silk and spices also carried stories, beliefs, and knowledge that would transform societies far from their origins.
Archaeological Discoveries and Ongoing Research
Modern archaeology continues to reveal new information about Silk Road trading centers. Excavations at ancient city sites have uncovered evidence of sophisticated urban planning, advanced technologies, and extensive trade networks. These discoveries help scholars better understand how these cities functioned and how they connected with one another.
Recent archaeological work has revealed the extent of cultural mixing in Silk Road cities. Artifacts showing combinations of artistic styles from different regions, multilingual inscriptions, and evidence of diverse religious practices all testify to the cosmopolitan nature of these trading centers. DNA analysis of human remains has confirmed the presence of people from distant regions living in these cities, providing biological evidence of the human connections created by trade.
Digital technologies are enabling new approaches to studying the Silk Road. Geographic information systems (GIS) allow researchers to map trade routes and analyze patterns of movement and exchange. Digital reconstructions of ancient cities help visualize what these trading centers looked like at their height, bringing their past glory to life for contemporary audiences.
The Human Stories Behind the Trade
Behind the statistics and historical facts about Silk Road markets lie countless human stories. Merchants who spent years away from home, traveling dangerous routes in search of profit. Craftsmen who perfected their skills to create goods worthy of international trade. Translators and intermediaries who bridged language barriers to facilitate communication between traders from different cultures.
Women played important roles in Silk Road trade, though their contributions are often less documented than those of men. Women worked as merchants, craftspeople, and innkeepers. In some regions, women from merchant families managed business operations while their male relatives traveled. The movement of people along the Silk Road also led to intermarriage between different cultural groups, creating families that embodied the cultural mixing characteristic of trading centers.
The experiences of travelers along the Silk Road varied enormously depending on their status, resources, and purposes. Wealthy merchants traveled in large, well-protected caravans with numerous servants and guards. Buddhist pilgrims often traveled in smaller groups or even alone, relying on the hospitality of monasteries along the route. Diplomatic envoys traveled with official credentials that provided them with support from local authorities.
Conclusion: The Enduring Significance of Silk Road Markets
The largest markets and trading centers of the Silk Road were far more than simple commercial venues. They were crucibles of cultural exchange, centers of learning and innovation, and meeting points for civilizations that might otherwise have remained isolated from one another. Cities like Chang’an, Samarkand, Baghdad, Merv, and Kashgar became cosmopolitan metropolises where the diversity of human culture was on full display.
These trading centers facilitated the exchange of goods that ranged from everyday necessities to luxury items that only the wealthy could afford. Silk, spices, precious metals, porcelain, and countless other commodities moved through their markets, creating wealth and connecting distant economies. But perhaps more importantly, these cities enabled the exchange of ideas, technologies, and cultural practices that would shape the development of civilizations across three continents.
The infrastructure that supported Silk Road trade—caravanserais, organized markets, banking systems, and trade regulations—represented sophisticated solutions to the challenges of long-distance commerce. The success of these systems demonstrates the ingenuity and organizational capabilities of the societies that created them.
The legacy of the Silk Road continues to resonate today. The cities that once served as trading centers remain important cultural and economic hubs in their regions. The traditions of craftsmanship, the architectural monuments, and the cultural diversity that characterized these cities during the Silk Road era continue to shape their identities. Modern initiatives to revive Silk Road connections acknowledge the historical importance of these routes and seek to build on their legacy of connecting distant regions through trade and cultural exchange.
Understanding the history of Silk Road markets and trading centers provides valuable insights into the processes of globalization, cultural exchange, and economic integration. These ancient cities demonstrated that people from vastly different backgrounds could come together in pursuit of mutual benefit, creating spaces where diversity was not just tolerated but celebrated as essential to commercial success. In our contemporary globalized world, the lessons of the Silk Road remain remarkably relevant, reminding us of the long history of human connection across cultural boundaries and the transformative power of trade and exchange.
For those interested in learning more about the Silk Road and its trading centers, numerous resources are available. The UNESCO Silk Roads Programme provides extensive information about the historical routes and ongoing preservation efforts. The National Geographic Society offers educational materials and articles about Silk Road history and archaeology. Museums around the world, including the National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, D.C., feature exhibitions dedicated to Silk Road art and culture. Academic institutions continue to conduct research on various aspects of Silk Road history, contributing to our ever-growing understanding of these remarkable trading networks and the cities that made them possible.
The story of the Silk Road’s greatest markets is ultimately a story about human ambition, ingenuity, and the desire to connect with others across vast distances. It reminds us that the impulse to trade, to exchange ideas, and to learn from different cultures is a fundamental aspect of human nature that has shaped our history and continues to influence our world today.