Great Khorasan Road Facilitates Trade

The Great Khorasan Road served as a vital trade route that connected the fertile lowlands of Mesopotamia with Central Asia, traversing through the Zagros highlands and the Iranian plateau into regions such as Samarkand, Merv, and Ferghana. This informal mercantile route facilitated the establishment of frontier cities, including Cyropolis, which became significant hubs for commerce and cultural exchange. Following the conquests of Alexander, the road played a crucial role in the dissemination of cultural influences, notably the syncretic blend of Greco-Buddhism, which spread into Central Asia and China. The interactions along this route contributed to the rise of various empires, including the Kushan, Indo-Greek, and Parthian, which capitalized on the trade opportunities between the East and West.