The Republic of Azerbaijan supports the UNESCO Silk Road Online Platform

Throughout its history, Azerbaijan has played an important role in the development of the Silk Roads specially in Caucuses through connecting Central Asia with Anatolia, the Black Sea and the west. Situated on the west coast of the Caspian Sea and at the feet of the Caucasus Mountains, the country has been a pivotal point in the connection of civilizations since ancient times, welcoming merchants from across land and sea, and thus becoming a vital centre for the exchange not only of goods and merchandise, but of ideas, customs, religions and cultures.

The first merchant routes across Azerbaijan appear to have been forged from as early as the 5^th century BC, as indicated by a number of Egyptian-Roman artifacts discovered there from this period. This northern trade route, through the Caucasus and across the Caspian Sea, became more popular as a lucrative trade between the Roman Empire and the Chinese Han dynasty emerged in the 1^st century BC. Additionally, much of this northern route involved trade across water, both via the Caspian Sea and a network of rivers, which was cheaper and sometimes more efficient than routes across land. The Bay of Baku provided one of the best harbours in the Caspian Sea, being well sheltered from the fierce winds for which the region is renowned, thus drawing traffic to the Azerbaijani coast.

Azerbaijan remained a vital hub of trade along the Silk Roads throughout the Middle Ages, a period of rich and diverse cultural development in the region. Medieval monuments and architecture from the cities of Baku, Nakhchivan, Barda, and Shekhi, among others, reflect the diversity of influences that shaped the region under the rule of a variety of powers, from the Caucasian Shirvan-Shahs to the Mongols of Central Asia and the Persian Safavids. A number of outstanding intellectuals emerged in Azerbaijan in this period, including mathematicians, astronomers, philosophers and poets, and this cultural development was nourished by the passage of merchants and scholars from Central Asia, India, Iran, the Near East, Turkey and Europe, all of whom brought new ideas and skills with them, which were absorbed into and enriched Azerbaijani culture.  

Moreover, these Silk Road merchants stopped to buy as well as to sell, and as such, Azerbaijani goods were also woven into the Silk Road network. High quality metalwork, ceramic, silk and wooden goods were produced by Azerbaijani craftsmen and sold on in this way. Perhaps the most well-known and sought after Azerbaijani goods however were the traditional carpets, which continue to be famous today for their colourful, intricate and striking designs, reflecting diverse cultural influences. Since the ancient times the region also has extensive natural oil supplies that since the 15^th century has played an important role in Azerbaijan's economy. Indeed, the name Azerbaijan itself means ‘land of fire’.  

Standing at the crossroads between Central Asia and Europe, the country has also witnessed a variety of different religious influences throughout history. In ancient times, Zoroastrianism was widely followed by the communities from this region, and its legacy has continued to play an important role in Azerbaijani culture, with some legends claiming that the prophet Zoroaster himself was born and dead there. Indeed, Nowruz, an annual festival that has its roots in the religion, is still widely followed in Azerbaijan and surrounding countries, and there remains a small Zoroastrian community in the country today. The region was also one of the first to adopt Christianity, in the 4^th century AD, and subsequently converted to Islam following the conquests of the Muslims powers in the later 7^th century. A number of different Jewish communities have lived in Azerbaijan since ancient times, and there is also an historic Hindu community, which is thought to have been established by Silk Road merchants from India who settled in Azerbaijan in the Middle Ages.   

In recognition of these centuries of exchange and interaction that took place along this section of the Silk Roads, as well as its commitment to the promotion of the Intercultural Dialogue, the Republic of Azerbaijan has recently joined the Member States which contributed to UNESCO Silk Road Online Platform. The country made a generous donation of 50,000 USD to the project to support the further development and expansion of the Online Platform and enhance the understanding of the intercultural dialogue that took place along the Silk Roads.