Zhang Qian, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

Zhang Qian

imperial envoy to the world outside of China in the 2nd century BC

Date of Birth: 28-Sep-0200

Place of Birth: Chenggu County, Shaanxi, China

Date of Death: 18-Jul-0114

Profession: politician, diplomat, explorer

Zodiac Sign: Libra

Zhang Qian (Chinese: ??; died c.
114 BC) was a Chinese official and diplomat who served as an imperial envoy to the world outside of China in the late 2nd century BC during the Han dynasty.
He was one of the first official diplomats to bring back valuable information about the West, including what remained of the Macedonian Empire (see diadochi, Partition of Triparadisus) the Parthian Empire, Persia, India, Central Asia to the Han dynasty imperial court, then ruled by Emperor Wu of Han.
He played an important pioneering role for the future Chinese conquest of lands west of Xinjiang, including swaths of Central Asia and even lands south of the Hindu Kush (see Protectorate of the Western Regions). Today, Zhang Qian's travels are associated with the major route of transcontinental trade, the Silk Road.
His missions opened trade routes between East and West and exposed different products and kingdoms to each other through trade.
Zhang's accounts were compiled by Sima Qian in the 1st century BC.
The Central Asian parts of the Silk Road routes were expanded around 114 BC largely through the missions of and exploration by Zhang Qian.
Today, Zhang is considered a Chinese national hero and revered for the key role he played in opening China to the wider world of commercial trade.