About Silkroad
The Silk Road was not a single road but a network of trade routes connecting East Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, active from around the 2nd century BCE to the 15th century CE. It facilitated not only the exchange of goods—like silk, spices, precious metals, and glassware—but also ideas, cultures, religions, and technologies.
Silk Road in the Afghanistan Region
Afghanistan played a crucial role in the Silk Road because of its geographic location—serving as a crossroads between China, India, Persia, and the Mediterranean world.
Key Routes Through Afghanistan:
1. Northern Route:
Passed through Balkh (Bactra) in northern Afghanistan, an ancient city that was a hub of Buddhism and Zoroastrianism.
Connected to Samarkand and China via the Pamir Mountains and Central Asian cities.
2. Southern Route:
Connected Kandahar and Herat, then moved westward toward Persia (modern Iran).
3. Central Corridor:
Passed through Bamiyan, famous for its monumental Buddha statues and monasteries, and connected northern and southern routes.