THE SILK ROAD I - 8 of 12 - A Heat Wave Called Turfan

Camels plodding across the desert, and a sense of timelessness evoked by Kitaro's theme music... NHK devoted 17 years to the planning, shooting and production of The Silk Road, which unearthed trade routes linking long-lost civilizations of East and West. A landmark in broadcasting history, this series told the story of the rise and fall of ancient civilizations.
The NHK Tokushu and China's CCTV documentary series The Silk Road began on April 7, 1980. The program started with the memorable scene of a camel caravan crossing the desert against the setting sun, with Kitaro's music and a sense of timelessness. It was the start of an epic televisual poem.
The first journey described in the series began in Chang'an (now Xi'an), at the eastern end of the ancient route. On 450,000 feet of film, the NHK crew recorded the path westward to the Pamir Heights at the Pakistan border and this material was edited to make 12 monthly broadcasts. In response to viewers' requests that the series be extended to cover the Silk Road all the way to Rome, sequels were made over the next 10 years. Seventeen years after the program was conceived, the project was completed.
8) A Heat Wave Called Turfan
The oasis cities of Hami and Turfan suffered attacks by Huns, but also enjoyed the peaceful co-living of diverse ethnic groups.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silk_Road

[@miyubail]

The most wonderful documentary series. NHK superbly created this. I'm so proud of my home country. And this documentary is nearly 40 years old and has not tarnished.

[@DK_was_here]

How can ancient civilization construct such a very deep underground irrigation in the middle of the desert? Truly amazing!

[@matjagger]

thank you for uploading the series. i watched it in the 80s, its good to watch it again now.

[@michaelblount2522]

What a world-class documentary. Sets an admirable standard.

[@toolittletoolate6910]

A fantastic series...Thank You through all 12 episodes..

[@HEDONISTOR]

precious documentary

[@allgoo1930]

Long live NHK!!

[@marekmosiadz1127]

Excellent

[@80milekyle70]

5:20 I went through so much water hiking Turpan

[@sufiwho]

Thank you for uploading! I have one of the episodes in Mandarin Chinese but it is good to have this English version to share with family and friends. Anyone knows where one can buy them in even more other languages?

[@alessandroacciai]

Is the Nippon Hoso Kiokai . Radio service of Japan.

[@bloodgorged]

XuanZang,or as we in the uk know him,tripitaka.

[@lilylovesjiminie790]

What were the people of turban like?

[@zazzmagar]

So half of the Islamic country was Buddhist in the past?

[@ridgemondhigh4891]

The other half was Zoroastrianism, Christianity, Manicheanism, some Judaism.

[@gog3d]

what's nhk ? network Hong Kong?

[@Cycloscope]

it's japanese

[@osmanrozi]

:-)

[@allgoo1930]

4:14 It's basically an enormous quick sand.

[@rajeswarithulajappa6774]

allgoo19 marlvolus episodes, beautifully captured and informative

[@MRNDESO-ps7bz]

Turfan of Sorban words from indo-persian/arabic culture

[@andreal.3097]

The same religion who destroyed the biggest Budha statue in Afghanistan :( :( If they can't appreciate art they should just leave it alone!

[@zahrans]

….and the same religion which gave birth to magnificent architecture and art in India, Pakistan, Iran etc. BTW those Buddha statues which were built around the year 550 were safeguarded and appreciated in Muslim Afghanistan for more than a millennia, before extremists that were originally assembled, trained and supported by the Americans blew them up in 2001. But yeah “The same religion who destroyed the biggest Budha statue in Afghanistan”. Facts or context be damned, innit?

[@thomaslee1982]

It's a good point. Be nice to have that Library of Alexandria back. Westerners, in general, don't tend to appreciate, or understand their place in the long nuanced arc of civilizational history. That being said, I think most religions are a zero sum loss to humanity's development writ large. Just my opinion.

[@borderreiver3288]

China is now destroying all mosques and has put thousands of Muslims in jail....ethnic cleansing....

[@dontlookspins]

More unsubstantiated redscare BS