1 Uzbekistan is a country in the Middle East, just north of Afghanistan. It has a long history full of many interesting places and people.
2 Thousands of years ago, a young Chinese man left his home to find new friends in different parts of the world. This young man discovered many places west of China, and the road he traveled became known as the Great Silk Way. Part of the Silk Way went through the deserts and mountains of Uzbekistan.
3 For many, many years, people from all over Asia traveled along the Great Silk Way. Many travelers carried silk, china, rare metal goods, herbs and fruit, which they traded with people all along the Silk Way.
