The Role of Afghanistan in Historical and Modern Silk Road Trade

This article has examined the role of Afghanistan's geographical location in the development of the Historical Silk Road which is currently being revived. Located at the intersection of Central Asia, India, and the Middle East, Afghanistan is one of the most strategic points of the Silk Road. With the trade that started almost 5,000 years ago, many nations have joined this network. After the invention of silk, countries like Turkey, Iran, and Rome made efforts to establish direct ties with the Chinese manufactures in order to obtain this valuable product. Afghanistan was at the center of these struggles. In order to dominate these trade routes, Kushany, Yuezhi, Chinese, Turks, Iranians and Roman merchants followed a certain strategy in this trade and Afghanistan was always at the centerof the fight between these great powers. Afghanistan is about to play a key role once again in the Silk Road reviving projects.