Professor Marco Malagodi of Italy: "The Silk Road Began in Gyeongju"

Claim Presented at the "2025 APEC International Forum" on the 26th
Kim Ilyun: "Gyeongju, the Origin of Democracy and the Silk Road"

As Gyeongju, the host city of the 2025 APEC Summit, is attracting global attention with the theory that it was the starting point of the Silk Road, this hypothesis is also gaining recognition in Italian academic circles.

On October 26, Professor Marco Malagodi of the University of Pavia stated at the "2025 Gyeongju APEC Commemorative International Forum" held at the Wellbeing Center of Shingyeongju University in Gyeongju that "Gyeongju was the starting point of the Silk Road, and there is ample evidence to support this."

Professor Marco Malagodi, speaking on the theme "The Western End of the Silk Road: The Transmission and Present of Roman Heritage," asserted, "Numerous artifacts and historical documents confirm that Silla, with its thousand-year-old history and culture, was the starting point of the eastern end of the Silk Road, which connected Chang'an in China, Central Asia, Istanbul, and Rome." He added, "Countless relics that prove this will be discovered in the future."

He emphasized, "Such active international trade along the Silk Road greatly contributed to enhancing the global reach and excellence of Silla culture," and stated, "There are various pieces of evidence suggesting that Seorabeol, the ancient capital of Silla, was the starting point of the Silk Road."

He further explained, "Even when comparing the cultural heritage of Rome, Istanbul, Xi'an, and Gyeongju, it is clear that many artifacts and styles were exchanged."

This theory is supported by traces of ancient Silla merchants trading with Rome, India, and Arabia, as well as the discovery of Roman glassware, Western figurines, and Central Asian coachman statues in Silla tombs.

Earlier at the event, Kim Ilyun, President of Shingyeongju University, remarked in his opening address, "Within the history and culture of Gyeongju, which served as the capital of ancient Silla for a thousand years, we can find lessons that enable nations around the world to overcome challenges and achieve prosperity." He continued, "From the tribal era, Silla established its first king through the Hwabaek system, which is the root of democracy, and, with Wonhyo's philosophy of reconciliation, unified the Three Kingdoms and expanded east-west trade along the Silk Road. We must re-examine the history and culture of the ancient city of Gyeongju."

This international forum was hosted by Shingyeongju University and the World Capital Culture Research Association, with support from Gyeongsangbuk-do Province and Gyeongju City. It is being evaluated as an opportunity for Gyeongju, the thousand-year-old ancient capital that is drawing global attention before and after the APEC event, to soar to a new level in the rapidly changing information age.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.