From Liyue to Rome: Comparing Genshin Impact Trade & the Silk Road (Grade 7 Lesson)

Engage 7th graders with world history using Genshin Impact! This lesson plan compares trade routes, goods (silk, spices), and cultural exchange in Teyvat (Liyue, Mondstadt) to the historical Silk Road, connecting ancient China and Rome. Includes mapping and reflection activities.

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Teyvat's Traders and the Terran Silk Road

Grade Level: 7

Time Allotment: 60-90 minutes

Lesson Activities:

I. Introduction: Welcome to Teyvat Trade! (10-15 min)

Engage: Start with a discussion about Genshin Impact.

  • Which regions have you visited in Teyvat (Mondstadt, Liyue, Inazuma, Sumeru, etc.)?
  • What makes each region unique (culture, goods, architecture, beliefs)? Think about Liyue Harbor versus Mondstadt City.
  • How do goods and people travel between these regions? (Mention characters traveling, merchant NPCs like Liben or Dori).
  • Have you noticed goods specific to one region being used or talked about in another? (e.g., Liyue Silk Flowers, Sumeru Spices).

Transition: Just like the nations in Teyvat trade goods and interact, ancient civilizations in our world were connected by amazing networks long ago. One of the most famous was the Silk Road.

II. Exploring the Silk Road (20-30 min)

Explore & Explain:

  • What was the Silk Road? Introduce the Silk Road not as a single road, but a network of trade routes connecting East Asia (primarily China) with the Mediterranean world (Europe and North Africa) through Central Asia and the Middle East. Show a map spanning from roughly 130 BCE to the 1450s CE.
  • What was Traded? Discuss the famous goods:
    • From East to West: Silk (explain its value!), porcelain, tea, paper, gunpowder.
    • From West to East: Horses, glassware, gold, silver, wool, linen, grapes/wine.
    • From Central Asia/India: Spices, gems, textiles, Buddhism.
  • More than Goods: Cultural Diffusion! Emphasize that the Silk Road wasn't just about physical items. It was a highway for:
    • Ideas: Religions (like Buddhism spreading from India to East Asia), philosophies.
    • Technology: Papermaking moving west, irrigation techniques.
    • Culture: Art styles, music, food, fashion influencing different regions.
  • Genshin Parallel: Think about Liyue. It's known for trade, contracts, and unique goods like silk and porcelain (inspired by China). How does Liyue interact with Mondstadt (inspired by Germany/Europe)? What ideas or conflicts arise from their different values (e.g., Freedom vs. Contracts)? This mirrors how different cultures interacted via the Silk Road. Consider how knowledge (like Alchemy from different regions) spreads in Teyvat.

III. Mapping the Connections (15-20 min)

Activity:

  • Provide a blank or partially labeled map of Eurasia and North Africa.
  • Have the student trace the major land and sea routes of the Silk Road.
  • Label key regions/empires involved (e.g., Han China, Roman Empire, Persia, India).
  • Mark the origin points for 3-4 key goods (Silk - China, Spices - India/Southeast Asia, Glassware - Rome/Middle East).
  • Genshin Connection (Optional): Briefly sketch a map of Teyvat and draw hypothetical trade routes between major cities (Mondstadt, Liyue Harbor, Sumeru City, Inazuma City). Discuss what goods might travel these routes.

IV. Assessment & Reflection (10-15 min)

Elaborate & Evaluate:

  • Discussion: Ask questions like:
    • Why was silk so important?
    • Besides goods, what was the most important thing exchanged on the Silk Road? Why?
    • How is the interaction between nations in Genshin Impact similar to or different from the Silk Road? (Think about conflict, cooperation, sharing knowledge).
  • Written Reflection: Have the student write a short paragraph answering: "Imagine you are a merchant traveling from Liyue Harbor to Sumeru City OR from ancient Rome to Chang'an (ancient China) via the Silk Road. Describe one valuable item you are trading and one new idea or custom you learned about on your journey."

V. Closure (5 min)

Recap: Briefly summarize the importance of the Silk Road in connecting the world and facilitating cultural exchange. Reiterate that understanding historical connections helps us understand both real-world history and the dynamics in fictional worlds like Teyvat, where interactions between diverse cultures drive the story.

Differentiation:

  • Support: Provide a pre-labeled map with routes outlined; offer sentence starters for the written reflection.
  • Challenge: Ask the student to research one specific city along the Silk Road (e.g., Samarkand, Kashgar, Palmyra) and its role, or research the historical basis for one specific Genshin region's trade goods (e.g., the real-world inspiration for Cor Lapis or Noctilucous Jade).