In "The Silk Road," Valerie Hansen describes the archaeological finds that revolutionize our understanding of these trade routes. Hansen explores seven oases along the road, from Xi'an to Samarkand, where merchants, envoys, pilgrims, and travelers came together in cosmopolitan communities that were tolerant of religions ranging from Buddhism to Zoroastrianism. There was no single, continuous route, but rather a chain of markets that traded between East and West. China's main partners were the peoples of present-day Iran, whose graves in China reveal much about their Zoroastrian faith. Silk was not the most important commodity on the road; paper had a greater impact in Europe, while metals, spices, and glass were just as important as silk. Perhaps most significant was the transmission of ideas, technologies, and artistic motifs along the road.