Han Dynasty Grape Wine and the Silk Road's Forgotten Beverage

When we think of the Silk Road, we picture spices, silk, and horses. But what about wine? In this episode, Lucas and Luna uncork the story of grape wine in Han Dynasty China — a luxury import from the distant Ferghana Valley that flowed into the courts of Chang'an alongside the famed 'Heavenly Horses'. They trace how the Han general Li Guangli, after two bloody campaigns to secure Ferghana's horses, also brought back the knowledge of viticulture. They explore the archaeological evidence of wine vessels and grape motifs, the role of wine in state rituals and elite banquets, and how the Han court's love of grape wine foreshadowed later Tang dynasty wine culture. Along the way, they touch on the botanical transfer of the grapevine, the etymology of the Chinese word for grape (putao), and the fascinating figure of a Han emperor who may have been buried with wine. This episode pours a fresh angle on Han history: the story of a drink that connected East and West in ways beyond commerce.

#HanDynasty #SilkRoad #GrapeWine #Viticulture #Ferghana #LiGuangli #HeavenlyHorses #ChangAn #Archaeology #ChineseHistory #WineHistory #CulinaryHistory #BotanicalTransfer #EmperorWu #Putao #CentralAsia #History #FexingoHistory

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