Samarkand trade hub

Timeline

1. c. 700–1000Samarkand · UzbekistanSamarkand linked Persia and China through Sogdian merchant networks; after Islamization it became an important Central Asian hub of religion, handicrafts, and long-distance trade.
2. c. 1220–1270Samarkand · UzbekistanAfter the Mongol Empire unified the Eurasian steppe routes, Samarkand regained prosperity; the postal relay system and relatively unified political order facilitated caravan traffic, connecting the Ilkhanate, the Golden Horde, and the Yuan dynasty.
3. 1370–1500Samarkand · UzbekistanTimur made Samarkand his capital, launching major construction and attracting craftsmen from many lands; the city became Central Asia's political center and a hub of luxury trade, continuing the Silk Road city tradition.