The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams

For many cultures in Europe and Asia, the 11th century marked a high point in social and cultural advancement. China, in the Song dynasty, and the classical Islamic world both flourished, experiencing advancements in science, technology, and literature, while Europe saw the sharp loss of the Byzantine empire and the rise of Norman culture and papal authority, initiating what we now call the High Middle Ages. Further, the Seljuk dynasty in Türkiye claimed power, cementing advancements in Persian culture. 

All these varied cultures consistently met and mixed on the Silk Road, also called the Silk Routes, a dangerous but lucrative series of trade routes linking Türkiye and Egypt to Chinese cities and covering over 4,000 miles. The Silk Road was vital to the multicultural development of Asia and the Middle East, allowing for the spread of religion, art, culture, and technology. Despite the benefits, however, it was extremely dangerous, with raids from bandits and exposure to harsh desert conditions resulting in few people surviving the entire journey. Mara and Smithy’s belief in Accidentalism (the philosophy that events happen haphazardly and without causality) seems justified for people living as travelers on the Silk Road—death came often, and usually at random, to those who dared risk their lives for profit.