The Great Silk Road

ENCYCLOPAEDIC REFERENCE BOOK
ANTIQUITY AND THE EARLY MIDDLE AGES

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Reviewers
G. A. Pugachenkova - academician of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, doctor of art-criticism

A. A. Khaldmov - academician of the Academy of Arts of the Republic of Uzbekistan, doctor of art-criticism

A. S. Sagdullaev - professor, doctor of History

WAYS AND ROADS OF THE EAST
About silk and the Great silk road
FROM THE WEST TO THE EAST
Hellines and Hellenistic culture in Central Asia
Romans on the roads of the Great silk road
On the tracks of the Christians, Manicheys and Judaists
The Middle Asian exponents (preachers) of Buddhism in the Far East
Sogdian Diaspora in the Middle Asia
FROM THE EAST TO THE WEST
China and the Middle Asia
Struggle for silk. Turks on the Great silk road
COINS ON THE GREAT SILK ROAD
DIPLOMACY ON THE GREAT SILK ROAD
Conclusion
SHORT ENCYCLOPAEDIA
Literature

"... The way, which I have chosen, is completely not near, but... it is difficult and far. "

      The scientific study of the Great silk road in historical, geographical and culturelogical aspects began in essence in the second half of the 19th century by the scientists of many countries. The significant contribution to its research was brought by the West-European, Russian and Japanese scientists. In particular, in Japan "The Encyclopedia of the Great silk road " is issued. In 1877 in classical scientific work "China" the famous German scientist Ferdinand Paul Wilgelm Richtgofen has named the system of roads connecting various parts of extensive Eurasian continent "The Silk road " - Seidenstrassen, the term "The Great silk road " was approved later.
      The bibliography of scientific and popular scientific works about the Great silk road includes more than a thousand of items: monographs, books, brochures, articles, reports, theses. The history of the Great silk road, description of the basic and auxiliary roads, characteristic of cities, ethnic structure of the population, items of goods, architecture and art, music and epos is given in them. However in complete scientific volume the bibliography is not made up yet. During last two decades the scientific and public interest to the history of this great transcontinental road, its place and importance in the world civilization has greatly increased.
      In 1987 UNESCO within the framework of the world decade of UNO on the cultural development has accepted the international program " The Silk road -the road of dialogue ", providing wide and universal study of the history of Central Asian people's civilization. But its main purpose is the establishment of closer cultural and economic contacts between the East and the West, improvement of mutual relations between the numerous peoples occupying these great continents.
      The scientific conferences and seminars are carried out, the joint international expeditions on the Great silk road are spent, the movies are created, the books, brochures and articles are published, some archaeological and architectural monuments are restored.
      Among spent eleven expeditions: " On traces of Marko Polo " (June -August 1987, Istanbul - Beijing); "Sea" (October 23, 1990 - February 23, 1991); " On republics of Central Asia ", finished in Khiva by a special scientific seminar in 1991; "Expedition on routes of roving culture (June - August 1992, Mongolia); " The European silk road (1995, Istanbul -Lyons) and others.
      From the large number of scientific international conferences devoted to the Great silk road we can name " Formation and development of routes of the Great silk road in Central Asia in the antiquity and Middle Ages " (Samarkand, October 1990); "The Epos of states along the Silk road " (Turku, FinlandJune 3-7, 1993); "Languages and writings along the the Silk road " (Cyprus, September 30 - October 1, 1994); " Revival of the Silk road: cultural tourism and revival of population in Uzbekistan " (Bukhara, February 21-22, 1996).
      In some countries of the East (India, China, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Japan) special scientific institutions on study of the Great silk road are established, including the Khiroyama Institute in Kamakura (Japan) issuing high-scientific annuary "Archaeology and art of the Great silk road" ( 4 issues had been published). An institution of the similar kind is founded also in Uzbekistan in the city of Samarkand - the International Institute of Central Asian researches (IICAR), established on the decision of the UNO and UNESCO. One of the projects of its work provides the study of cities and routes of the Great silk road. Besides scientific and cultural programs the project of the global importance on revival of the Great silk road is being carried out.
      The great transcontinental railway is called to connect the countries of Europe with the countries of Far East. In May 1997 the construction of the site Meshkhed - Serahs, Serahs - Meshkhed had been completed, and therethrough the countries of Central Asia have received an exit to the Persian gulf, and the countries of Europe to Central Asia. The constmction of the site of the railway between Uzbekistan and China is on its turn. A complete revival of the Great silk road in its "railway" variant from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean will take place.
      Extremely important significance is given to the study of the Great silk road in Uzbekistan. Due to the initiative and support of I. A. Karimov, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan great activity on revival, development of culture, science, art, national crafts, tourism here is being carried out. It is no wonder that just Tashkent had been chosen to be the place of realization of the international seminar under the aegis of the World tourist organization which has addressed to the countries of the world with an appeal to transform the Great silk road to the road of friendship and cooperation. It is not casually also, that one of the central streets of Tashkent leading to the East, is named " Buyuk Ipak Yuli " - the Great silk road.
      In September 1998 in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan the international conference devoted to revival of the Great silk road from Europe to Japan on overland routes anciently running through the lands of Central Asia was held. The transport corridor Europe - Caucasus - Asia connecting by the short cut the East and the West, will serve to development of all world economy.
      At the same time the almost complete absence of books devoted to the history of the Great silk road in Uzbekistan and in all Central Asia is annoying.
      The offered book does not contain a thorough and consecutive history of the Great silk road for the significance and role of the representatives of various countries and peoples, in particular of Greece, Rome, China and Sogd in its creation is shown first of all, drama events connected with the struggle for silk, interaction of ancient cultures of the West and the East have been told about. Thus the main attention is paid to Central Asia, as to the interlink between these cultures. The chronological frames of the book are leadup to 7-8 centuries A. C., when the first early epoch in the history of the Great silk road is actually finished.