Articles | Open Access | DOI: https://doi.org/10.37547/supsci-ojss-06-05-47

THE ROLE OF THE GREAT SILK ROAD IN THE ECONOMIC INTEGRATION OF CENTRAL ASIAN STATES

M. F. Khujanova ,
Giyosbek Abdullayev ,

Abstract

This article is devoted to an in-depth analysis of the historical and systemic role of the Great Silk Road in the processes of economic integration among the states of Central Asia. The research employs historical-comparative, systemic, and functional approaches as its methodology, enabling a multifaceted interpretation of the Silk Road as a transregional connectivity system. This approach allows the Silk Road to be viewed not merely as a trade route but as a complex network linking diverse economic, social, and institutional systems.

The article examines the expansion of trade relations, the formation and development of urban centers, and the institutionalization of regional markets as key determinants of economic integration. In particular, cities located along caravan routes (such as Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva) are scientifically analyzed not only as transit points but also as centers of production, financial operations, and cultural exchange. These processes strengthened interregional economic interdependence and created the foundation for the early development of market mechanisms.

Furthermore, the study conceptually analyzes the phenomena of trade interdependence and early globalization that emerged through the Silk Road. The author interprets these processes as historical roots of the modern global economic system and substantiates their significance in strengthening Central Asia’s position within the global economic space. In particular, it is emphasized that the transregional movement of goods, technologies, capital, and cultural values contributed to the convergence of economic systems.

Keywords

Great Silk Road, Central Asia, economic integration, transregional relations, trade networks, early globalization, economic history.

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Khujanova, M. F. ., & Abdullayev, G. . (2026). THE ROLE OF THE GREAT SILK ROAD IN THE ECONOMIC INTEGRATION OF CENTRAL ASIAN STATES. Oriental Journal of Social Sciences, 6(05), 414–427. https://doi.org/10.37547/supsci-ojss-06-05-47