Cities of Azerbaijan on the Great Silk Road

Since the ancient times cities of Azerbaijan were known as centers of trade, culture, various crafts, science and education. Their production was used both in domestic and foreign markets and through the Great Silk Road. The Caucasus part of the Great Silk Road included cities of Sheki, Shamakhi, Baku, Gabala, Basgal and Lagich that were capital cities of the country in different periods of time. These cities are mentioned by antique, medieval and later authors who wrote in the ancient Greek, Latin, Syrian, Arab, Persian, Georgian, Turkish, Russian, English, Italian, German and French languages. Among these authors were travelers and missioners, geographers and scientists, merchants and pilgrims, writers and poets like Herodotus-"the father of history," Strabon, Plinius Senior, Ptolemeus, Marco Polo, Iosafat Barbaro, Anthony Jenkinson, Evlia Chelebi, A.?S.?Pushkin, M.?Y.?Lermontov, Alexander Duma Senior. Variety of goods was transported in both directions through land and sea routes of the Great Silk Road. However fame and name of the Great Silk Road as international route was due to export to the West of oriental silk and silk products that were even more expensive than gold and precious stones. SHEKI is one of the ancient cities in the Caucasus. Its name is believed to originate from the name of saks tribe that appeared in Azerbaijan in VII B.?C. and lived here a few centuries ago. Therefore antique authors called area of Sheki-Sakasena "land of saks." The city became very well-known as a center of Sakasena region of Alban kingdom. When Christianity was spread in this territory in IV century Sheki became one of its important centers. The city and its outskirts still have Alban temples built in V-VI centuries. After Azerbaijan was conquered by Arabs in VII century and included in Arab Caliphate, Sheki suffered from Arab-Khazar war for 150 years. Due to weakening of the Caliphate in IX century the city obtained an independent domain status. It was included in Shirvan kingdom in XI century, later on it was within Ilhan, Gara-Gounlu and Sefevi states. In 1743-1819 Sheki was the capital city of an independent Sheki kingdom that was conquered by the Russian empire. Various crafts were developed in Sheki-blacksmith's work, armory, copper, tinning, jewelry, pottery, leathery, confectionary, tailoring, silk weaving, carpet weaving, woodworking including mosaics and music instruments. Sheki jewelers are famous for their gold belts, ear-rings, bracelets, rings, and necklaces. Many of them like copper jugs and lamps, coffee-makers, plates and cold weapons are still in famous European museums, in particular in Louvre and Hermitage. Lagich is monument of history and architecture and protected by the state. It is included in the international tourist route on the Great Silk Road. BASGAL is one of ancient settlements on the Great Silk Road and known for its silk production. In XVI-XVII it was also one of important silk weaving centers of Shirvan. Here taffeta fibers, headscarves were produced and dyer industry was developed. In XIX century local craftsmen products were at many international exhibitions and were awarded diplomas of honor and bonuses. One of special distinguishing features about Basgal was medieval sewerage system and bathroom in every house. Currently silk weaving is reviving in Basgal. Museum of silk is being established. The city is included in international tourist route on the Great Silk Road as it represents a very well-preserved settlement on this Silk Road and thus it is a historical and regional reserve. SHAMAKHI. This city is first mentioned as Samakheya or Kemakheya by Ptolemeus, ancient Greek geographer, II century. It is shown in the Catalan map of 1375 as Khamay. Shamakhi had trade and cultural relations with the Oriental and Western countries since antique era. In XVI century English merchant and diplomat Anthony Jenkinson called Shamakhi "a wonderful royal city" and great French writer Alexander Duma Sr. described his impressions of Shamakhi and its citizens in his notes. Since VI century Shamakhi had become a capital city of Shirvan state which has 1000 year history. New defense walls were built in XI century which partially exist now. Amenities of the city were described by its citizen, great poet and thinker of XII century Khagani Shirvani. He compared Shamakhi with Buhara, one of the most famous Oriental cities saying "power of Shamakhi land laid magnificence of Buhara." Outstanding poet-satirist and enlightener Sabir whose works are still in spotlight in Muslim world was originally from Shamakhi. In the middle of XVI century Shirvan state was included in a powerful and vast Sefevi empire. Shamakhi population was 25000 and number of houses was up to 7000 at the time. By the middle of XVIII century Shamakhi or Shirvan kingdom emerged and existed till 1813 becoming then part of the Russian empire. Shamakhi was one of the largest trade centers and its most valuable goods were silk, carpets and carpet products. Variety of sources proves that Shirvan silk was largely exported abroad in XIII century, mainly to Italy and France. Castilian ambassador Ruiz Gonzales de Claviho wrote in XV century about trade in silk in Shamakhi and that it was attractive for merchants from Genoa and Venice. Ambrosio Contarini, diplomat from Venice visited Shamakhi in XV century and emphasized high quality of local silk and fibers and traveler Johann Schiltberger wrote that "the best silk comes from Shamakhi" and is used for fibers and velvet. Among silk fibers the greatest demand was for darai, diba, zarbaft-gold brocade. Shamakhi also had developed crafts like metal processing (labor tools, decorations, weapons), pottery and weaving. According to Arab authors, the city was on the main East-West trade routes in IX-X centuries. Nearby Shamakhi there are ruins of two well-known and inaccessible fortresses-Gulistan and Galei Bugurd. In XX century modern schools and technical schools, music schools, clinics and hospitals, museums and cultural centers were opened in Shamakhi. In Pirgulu settlement nearby Shamakhi astrophysics laboratory of the Nasreddin Tusi National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan is located. BAKU being on the crossroads between East and West was one of the well-known administrative, political, cultural, ideological, crafts and trade centers. The fact that Baku is shown on the Catalan map of 1375 proves that it was an important sea port during existence of the Great Silk Road. However it was not only silk that was exported to the West through this sea port. One of reasons for Baku importance was its oil reserves. According to Arab authors, black, green and white like jasmine oil was exported from there. The city had developed other crafts like carpets weaving, production of ceramic products, leather, jewels and weapons. During archeological excavations variety of gold and silver products were found like rings, ear-rings, bracelets, glass beads, plates and coins as well as expensive celadon and luster ceramic utensils. Since second half of XIX century the city became the largest industrial center of the south of the Russian empire.