THE HISTORICAL ROLE OF THE TERRITORY OF PRESENT-DAY UZBEKISTAN IN THE FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE GREAT SILK ROAD

Abstract

This article examines the historical role of the territory of present-day Uzbekistan in the formation and development of the Great Silk Road as a complex system of international trade, diplomatic relations, and cultural communications. Particular attention is paid to the geographical position of Central Asia, the emergence of ancient trade routes, and the establishment of major caravan centers in Sogdiana, Bactria, Ferghana, Chach, and Khorezm. Based on historical, archaeological, and historiographical sources, the study analyzes the significance of Samarkand, Bukhara, Termez, and other cities in the development of transcontinental connections between East and West. The activities of Sogdian merchants, who contributed to the expansion of trade networks, the dissemination of cultural traditions, and the strengthening of interstate relations, are examined. Special attention is given to the influence of the Great Silk Road on urban development, handicraft production, scientific achievements, and religious interactions. The study demonstrates that the historical regions located within the territory of modern Uzbekistan served as important connecting links in Eurasian exchange and made a substantial contribution to the development of international relations in antiquity and the Middle Ages.