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The Safavid Silk Road

Type Event Region Central Asia Time 1541–1550

In the 1540s, Safavid Persia controlled the overland trade hubs from the Iranian plateau to eastern Anatolia, exporting silk from Gilan and Mazandara…

Timeline

  1. 1541–1547Gilan · IranGilan and Mazandaran produced high-quality raw silk and textiles, transported overland to distribution centers like Tabriz. The Safavid court ensured trade flow through tax farming and caravan escorts, and silk became a major national export commodity and diplomatic gift.
  2. 1542–1550Aleppo · SyriaPersian silk caravans reached Aleppo via Iraq and Syria, then were distributed to Istanbul, Venice, and various parts of Europe. Despite the intermittent Ottoman-Safavid wars of the 1540s, trade routes remained largely open, and both empires collected tariffs on transit trade.

Sources