Azerbaijani Cities As Intermediaries in Medieval Eurasian Trade Relations

Authors : Şahla Mammadli

Pages : 613-619

View : 28 | Download : 71

Publication Date : 2024-01-12

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :In the Middle Ages, cities in Azerbaijan established trade relations with numerous Asian and European countries. To support trade operations and accommodate foreign merchants, Tabriz, Ardabil, Shamakhi, Baku, Derbent, and other Azerbaijani cities constructed many caravanserais. These caravanserais also served as marketplaces where people bought and sold a variety of goods. The Russian city Astrakhan has played a crucial role in facilitating economic relations between Azerbaijan and various cities in Western Europe, Central Asia, and Southwest Asia. It has emerged as a key hub for Asian trade and warehousing. Merchants used to transport goods purchased from Azerbaijani cities to countries in Asia and Eastern Europe, while also bringing a diverse range of products from those regions to Azerbaijan. Despite the challenges posed by sea and caravan trade routes, which were often plagued by raids and piracy, economic relations between Azerbaijan and Asian countries persisted. Merchants who settled in Azerbaijani cities paid significant taxes to local judges, but in return, they gained the freedom to practice their religion and preserve their religious traditions. The descriptive-comparative analysis was used for this study.
Keywords : international trade, Azerbaijani cities, Asian merchants, European countries, trade in the Middle Ages, trade routes