During the T'ang Dynasty, the Silk Road had its greatest affect on every day Chinese life.  Merchants from such
places as Persia, Mongolia, India, Europe, and Africa came into Ch'ang-an to market their wares. These people brought
with them new ideas and technologies that became part of the lives of the Chinese people. This gave the Chinese a new
perspective on life outside of the T'ang dynasty. In this story, the T'ang dynasty is brought to life by Wang Shi-Ren, a
fictional character who aspires to be a great poet. In his adventures, he experiences many of the foreign influences within
Ch'ang-an, a center of commerce and culture.  As you join in the streets of Ch'ang-an, be sure to take note of the many
references to the ideas and technologies that are mentioned previously in this website, and to think about the attitudes
that the poems demonstrate towards foreign influence.