Georgia
Georgia and the Silk Roads
The Great Silk Road that connected China with the Mediterranean world dates back to the 2nd century BCE. Its main route passed through Iran and Syria. There is evidence to suggest that some branches of this road crossed the territory of what is today Georgia as well.
The Caucasian route gained importance in the 6th century after confrontation between Byzantium and Iran began to make it unprofitable to deliver silk to Byzantium and other Mediterranean countries via Iran for economic and security reasons. Under such conditions the issue of an alternative route became very urgent. Central Asian merchants that provided Byzantium with Chinese silk tried to explore new route namely the one going to the north from the Caspian Sea, crossing the Caucasus range (via Dariali gorge or other passes in west Georgia) and proceeded to Byzantium via Georgia. It is known that the first caravan loaded with silk passed this route in 568.
The new road was much more difficult to traverse than that via Iran, but from a political and military point of view was more favorable. Archeological excavations in the North Caucasus confirmed that in the late 6th century and the first half of the 7th century a significant amount of Chinese silk was delivered to Byzantium through the Caucasus.
The Caucasus branch of the Great Silk Roads was explored after the 7th century as well, even when Georgia was under Arab control. Later, after the 14th century, this branch of the Silk Roads lost its importance and the great caravan routes ceased to traverse the Caucasus.
