The History and Culture of Chinese Silk (FutureLearn)

You’ll unpack the origins and legends of Chinese silk as you discover exciting archaeological finds and explore Chinese history.

Gain an introduction to the silk road

From the second century BCE, the silk road was a network of routes active for more than 1,500 years.

You’ll explore the silk routes on the road to understand the full scale of this important trade route and how it impacted the Chinese economy.

Explore silk weaving and patterns

Next, you’ll delve into the evolution and development of silk weaving techniques.

You’ll also discover the characteristics of ancient Chinese silk patterns from different dynasties through the years to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese history.

Learn from the experts at the University for the Creative Arts

Throughout the course, you’ll be guided by the specialists at the University for the Creative Arts.

With their expertise, you’ll finish with in-depth knowledge of Chinese silk, its history, and its importance in Chinese culture.

Syllabus

Week 1: Getting started

Week 2: Chinese silk road

Week 3: The development of silk patterns and changes in weaving techniques

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

- Develop an in-depth understanding of Chinese silk culture.

- Classify the artistic features of silk patterns from different dynasties.

- Describe the Silk Road.

- Summarise the development of silk weaving techniques.

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for anyone interested in Chinese silk, silk history and culture, and the evolution of textile techniques in different historical periods.

It will be particularly useful for textile students.