3 SET | The Silk Routes, by Mariana Castro

The Silk Roads: Paths Taken and to be Taken, by Mariana Castro

This lecture proposes an analysis of the Silk Roads as complex networks of mobility and exchange that shaped pre-Islamic landscapes and global connectivity. From an archaeological and historical perspective, we will explore how the circulation of goods, ideas, and people between Central Asia and the Mediterranean defined the early forms of globalization. The session will address both the "paths taken"—revealed through the explorations that forged this field of knowledge—and the "paths to be taken," reflecting on emerging themes and the ongoing relevance of these axes in understanding contemporary cultural dynamics.

Biographical Note
Mariana Castro holds a PhD from New York University (NYU), where her research and teaching have focused on the archaeology of mobility, interaction, and exchange in pre-Islamic landscapes, through the lens of globalization and the so-called "Silk Roads." She has a degree in Archaeology and Asian Studies from Brigham Young University and a master's degree from the University of Oxford (Ertegun scholar). She specializes in the integration of landscape archaeology, digital systems, and outreach and engagement with new audiences. With extensive international experience, she has participated in various archaeological projects in countries such as Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, and Uzbekistan—where she currently coordinates a field project in the largest turquoise mines in Central Asia.

20% discount until 3 days before.

CONTACT ca.cfc@scml.pt I +351 213 235 004

Maximum of 30 participants
Casa Ásia – Francisco Capelo Collection
Largo Trindade Coelho, 22, 1200-450 Lisbon (near Chiado)