Tag: Iran Silk Roads

The Silk Road in Iran and the Persian Caravanserai   The Silk Roads, as the oldest trading and communication network across the world, have connected many civilizations for millennia, bringing together peoples, cultures and economies. The roads provided a ground not only for the exchange of goods but also for the interactions of ideas and cultures that have shaped a part of our world today. The people living along the Silk Roads enjoy diverse cultures, religions and languages, and as a result of their interactions, they have influenced each other.   The Silk Roads have created architectural elements related to their functions, which reflect regional techniques, arts and even beliefs. Such elements include caravanserais, navigation towers, water cisterns, qanats, mosques and even cities. The caravanserais in particular functioned as meeting points for travellers and places for merchants to conduct their business, trading goods and commodities. Furthermore, they were a place for scientists and many other scholars to exchange their knowledge and ideas. Such places could make it possible to discover new civilizations or to learn new languages. Today, many historic buildings and monuments still stand, marking the passage of the Silk Roads through caravanserais, ports and cities. But the long-standing and ongoing legacy of this remarkable network is also reflected in the many distinct but interconnected cultures, languages, customs and religions that have developed over millennia along these routes. Precious silk Even though a variety of valuable materials, goods and commodities were transported, sold and traded along the Silk Roads – precious stones such as agate and turquoise, spices, salt, medicine, jewellery, etc. – it was silk that captivated Western markets and civilizations from antiquity until the end of the 19th century. The reason behind the huge demand for silk went beyond its superlative quality and extensive use in the