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Article: My kingdom for a horse.(Looking and Learning)
- Article from:
- School Arts
- Article date:
- October 1, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 Davis Publications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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About the Subject
Horses were the reason that China initiated the Silk Route trade. We do not know the name of the artist who created this powerful earthenware sculpture (on the next page), because Ancient Chinese culture did not place a premium on individual artistry in this medium.
Why were horses so important? Throughout its history, the Chinese empire was threatened by enemies from the north. In order to successfully combat their enemies, the Chinese needed large, powerful horses. These magnificent animals were really the military technology of their era.
In the last decades of the eighth century, the ordinary price of a Uighur (Uygur) ...