Music of the Silk Road

Like religion, music readily spreads beyond its land of origin because people bring their music with them when they travel, just as they bring with them their own faith and rituals. Familiar chants, songs, and instruments sustained pilgrims and traders who, at the same time, absorbed musical influences they encountered in their travels.
Religion has been one of the most important cultural forces to promote the dissemination of music along the Silk Road. …