The term “silk road” was first used by German geographer Ferdinand von Richthofen in 1877. The term marked the trade path that linked the ancient Rome with China. Nowadays the term “silk road” is used to mark all the roads that were used for trade between East and Europe.
In addition to silk, a wide range of other goods was traded along the Silk Road, and the network was also important for migrants and travelers, and for the spread of religion, philosophy, science, technology and artistic ideals. The Silk Road had a significant impact on the lands through which the routes passed, and the trade played a significant role in the development of towns and cities along the Silk Road routes.
The Origin
The Silk Road started to be used just after the invasions of Alexander the Great, when the East and West collided in Middle East and India. At first it was used to export silk from China, and this is why it was called “The Great Silk Road”.
The Great Silk Road
Armenia on the Silk Road
Needless to say, Armenia played a huge role for East and West at that time. From the East the Silk Road passed through Armenia, or rather, through the Artashat city and from there stretched to the harbors of the Black Sea. In the 5th century Dvin came to replace Artashat as the capital of Armenia. The trade road that linked China, Central Asia and Iran with the capital of Byzantine Empire Constantinople passed through Dvin.
The Silk Road from Armenia through the ‘Stans’ to China, was a little known trading route until it was discovered by Marco Polo in the 13th century. A journey down the Silk Road today shows how wrong my childhood learning was. Marco Polo not only did not “discover” the Silk Road, he came upon not at its beginning, but closer to its end nearly 1300 years after Emperor Augustus first noted its existence in 1 BC.
Orbelyans’ Caravanserai / photo from hushardzan.am web page
In the 9-10th centuries Armenian towns Artsn, Ani and Kars played an essential role in world trade. Later many samples of Persian pottery, silk and china were found during the excavations in Ani.
Till now in Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia the ancient Orbelians’ caravanserai was preserved, which once served as an inn for traders who passed through Armenia along the Silk Toad.
The Great Silk Road played a great role between the East and the West. It wasn’t just a trade road but it was a cultural, religious, linguistic and technological bridge for exchanges and enriched the culture of all participant countries.
The customs post of the Silk Road / photo from Wikipedia
What kept the Armenian culture and traditions alive and thriving was the ethereal Armenian innovative spirit, shaped and perfected on the crossroads of civilizations and hugely contributing to the development of humankind. This is probably the biggest benefit Armenia had received from its role as one of the oldest nations on the Great Silk Road.
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