In primitive history, the continuous development of human economic activity led to the natural organization of economic sectors, dividing physical labor and human entrepreneurial abilities into different directions and purposes (Alekseeva, Yakovleva 2007).

In historical science, this event, characterized as one of the most important engines of world history, not only, saved humanity from primitive collapse, but also elevated it to the highest level of the pedestal of living nature, freeing it from the dependence of the primitive food chain. 

In the process of the social division of labor, where the need arose to deliver essential goods over longer distances, requiring time and special devices, a special layer was formed in economic relations, engaged in the acquisition, transportation and sale of raw materials and finished products. In this regard, civilization began to rapidly expand, laying trade, economic and cultural bridges and roads along the entire perimeter of the then ecumene, covering all kinds of paths and directions. The first major project connecting the far edges of the Ancient East with its middle and front parts, as well as with Ancient Europe, was the Great Silk Road, which changed its appearance and routes over the centuries (Fig. 1). Having received appropriate impulses from the ancient Chinese genius, the Silk Road Contributed to the consistent formation of a system of ancient international trade relations, which today have powerful regulatory levers, clearly defined routes and well-developed strategic programs reflecting the geopolitical interests of the leading countries of Europe, Asia and America. As can be seen from the figure presented above (Fig. 1), historical Azerbaijan, one way or another, is located on the path of the main trade flow from East to West. At the same time, our country played and today plays the role of the main connecting bridge between civilizations, peoples and states. It is in Azerbaijan, through which the main route of roads and communications passes, that an atmosphere of peaceful co-existence, mutual penetration and communication of cultures prevails. 

Fig. 1: Various routes of the in Great Silk Road: ancient times and today.

This is where, geographically and ethno-culturally, Asia ends and Europe begins. It is here that the basic elements of cultural pluralism and multiculturalism are most clearly and extremely variegated, where many peoples representing different religious beliefs and cultural traditions live and coexist side by side. Today there are many trade routes connecting the countries of the East with Europe and America (for example, TRACECA – Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia), which operate on the general principles of interstate and intergovernmental relations and are modern analogues of the Great Silk Road (Turaeva, 2016).

Many important elements and components participated in the formation of trade and economic relations between Eastern and Western civilizations and cultural traditions, directly influencing the formation and expansion of communication routes, as well as the intensity of trade operations along all trade routes. Among these elements, sericulture and carpet weaving, as well as their transportation and marketing, were of particular importance. It is no coincidence that the first global trade and economic route in the history of mankind was called “silk”. Even in the oldest written sources of China, in particular in the texts of Confucian social ideology, there were records of people engaged in silkworm breeding and silk production from the beginning of the 3rd millennium BC (Ebrey, 2005). But, despite this, the ancient Chinese did not reveal the secrets of silk weaving to other peoples for centuries. However, in the first centuries AD, when Western civilization persistently penetrated into the deep regions of the Eurasian continent and many eastern peoples under the leadership of the Huns moved en masse to the west, giving impetus to such an important historical process as the “Great Migration of Peoples,” the ancient Chinese became fully open up to the world. However, they still remained a mystery. During this period, the breeding range of the silkworm expanded to the northwest and reached the territories inhabited by the Uyghur Turks, who, in turn, passed on the secrets of silk production further to the west, to other Turkic and Iranian peoples (Salusso, 2005). Today, along with China, India and Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Afghanistan, Iran and Turkmenistan are included in the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage for Traditional Silk Production (Newlands, Wressnig, Lewis, 2020).

Of course, silk was not the only element that opened the great gates of trade from East to West. Carpet weaving and carpet trade also had a significant impact on the development of global trade relations, great transport routes and trade communications. If in antiquity and the Middle Ages silk was mainly considered a luxury item and was worth its weight in gold, then carpet weaving, which also required a lot of labor and energy, primarily produced necessary household and household items. At the same time, handmade carpets, like various silk products, due to their special and exceptional content and purpose, represented wonderful artistic elements and were valued as a real work of art. Thus, in this article we have to consider the essence and significance of one of the most important inventions of the human mind and entrepreneurship, called “carpet weaving” and determine its exceptional influence on the engine of world history in terms of trade and economic relations. And also calculate the main economic factors influencing the development of this industry, the level of ethno cultural ties between East and West, new trends in carpet weaving and carpet trade, as well as the current state of trade routes and communications.

Problem statement 

Today, like thousands of years ago, problems related to trade, economic and cultural communications are extremely relevant. Despite the fact that at a high level of technology and technology introduced into all areas of human life and activity, some traditional elements and components of culture, both morally and materially, never grow old and do not achieve their significance. One of these elements is the carpet, which many centuries ago received a special elite status in everyday life and a special cultural code in applied art.  As the most valuable artifact, comparable in rank to precious metals, it has always been a symbol of luxury and an indispensable item of high society. It is the carpet, along with other products of human labor, such as silk, wool, various fabrics; leather, etc. have become real locomotives of world trade, sosial and cultural communications, and the merging of peoples and civilizations. All of the above elements gave impetus to the formation of a great trade route, which was affectionately given such epithets as “Great” and “Silk”. However, in modern times, both the carpet in its traditional understanding and meaning and the “Great Silk Road” are experiencing certain difficulties. Due to the changing lifestyle in the world, tastes are changing at a rapid pace; the modernization of manufacturing industries in accordance with the spirit and needs of globalization is replacing traditional production methods. This trend also applies to carpet weaving and carpet production, as a result of which the carpet, with its cultural load and ideological meaning, ceases to be an item of luxury and well-being, and also loses its artistic significance and purpose, turning into an element of widespread consumption. As for the “Great Silk Road”, as many centuries ago, dividing the trade, economic, political, and geopolitical interests and positions of states and empires, and in modern realities it never ceases to be a “bone of discord” and political disagreements.

The importance and necessity of research

Today, against the backdrop of globalization and ongoing socio-economic and military-political trends, turning to the source of national and global culture, as well as the study of high traditions, is of utmost importance. This fact becomes even more obvious when a new world order is being built at an intensive pace, which involves the study and implementation of narratives, the revival and adequate use of old traditions, economic factors and geopolitical plans. In this regard, the topic of the revival of carpet making and carpet weaving, which in itself has creative potential, socio-economic and cultural meaning undoubtedly claims scientific and public popularity. If we consider that today the driving force of social development is international trade and economic relations, then the topic of the scientific article becomes doubly relevant.

Carpet weaving facilities along the Silk Road and trade in carpets as an engine of international trade relations

In ancient and medieval history, carpet weaving and carpet trade developed at an intensive pace, and in all countries of the Asian continent, along the entire length of various routes of the Great Silk Road, there were constantly expanding farms for the production and sale of carpets. Starting from China and ending in Asia Minor and Western Asia in all countries and regions where Turkic-speaking and Iranian-speaking peoples lived, carpet weaving steadily emerged as a leading branch of the craft economy. Consequently, this industry contributed to the parallel development of other industries such as sheep and camel farming. But to say that the formation of carpet weaving farms on trade routes from Asia to Europe was an accident or artificially organized objects in advantageous positions would be untrue.  Most likely, the Great Silk Road carved out a route for itself along a certain line, where since ancient times there were cattle breeding farms and, therefore, weaving.

At the same time, we must not forget that the constant demand for carpets and carpet making, which were not only the subject of material well-being, but also a kind of symbol of spirituality, continuity and eternity for all times and peoples, naturally contributed to the formation of transport communications. Let us note that today trade and economic routes choose the path on which profitable and reliable farms are located that are vital for the West and the East. Of course, today the main elements that persistently make their way into global trade routes and routes across a vast economic space are completely different organic and inorganic elements, products and products. At the same time, carpet weaving and carpet trade have not lost their former relevance and relevance, despite the fact that a long time ago this industry was completely transferred to automated and mass production. In addition, hand-made carpets, which are of extreme artistic value, have sunk into history forever. However, ancient and medieval artifacts, presented as products of applied carpet weaving, are of great value, on a par with the great creations of famous artists, sculptors and goldsmiths.

Fig. 2: Copy of the “Sheikh Safi” carpet, Museum of Contemporary Art of Azerbaijan.

Of course, Azerbaijan in ancient times and during the Middle Ages was and today is the most important link in a huge chain of international, intercultural, trade and economic relations, which stretches from the Far East to Asia Minor and Asia Minor. In terms of traditional carpet weaving and carpet trade, Azerbaijan was also and to this day remains a leader among all producers of these products from China and India in the east, to Turkey and Egypt in the West. 

The fact that it was in Azerbaijan that carpet weaving was presented as a stable and clearly organized system, with various directions and schools, each of which had its own and unique artistic style, patterns and spiritual content. These schools, named after the cities and provinces (Baku, Ganja, Karabakh, Kazakh, Shirvan, Shamakhi and Ardabil), where the main workshops and enterprises were located, were and are now places historically inhabited by Turkic Azerbaijanis and Azerbaijanis of the Caucasian ethnic branches (Stokes, 2009). It was the hardworking Azerbaijani women, who have incomparably noble and loving hearts, an unshakable spirit and patience, completely and freely giving strength, energy and love, in the name of eternity and splendor, losing health, losing youth, beauty and vision, which were able to create such masterpieces that adorn the most famous museums of the planet (Efendi, 2008). Unfortunately, these priceless works of art are everywhere presented as Persian and Caucasian. For example, the “Sheikh Safi” carpet, dating from the 16th century (1539) and woven by order of the Safavid ruler Tahmasib I (1524-1576) (Getty, 2003).

In 1891, during the reign of Nasraddin Shah Qajar (1831-1896), the carpet was sold to the English company Vincent Robinson & Co for 2 thousand pounds sterling. Currently, the Sheikh Safi carpet is exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London as a Persian carpet. But this does not hide its real identity, where there is an imprint of the soul of the great and incomparable Azerbaijani woman. She, with her naturally unique dedication, patience and endless willpower, step by step put an indelible and eternal stamp on her superhuman work, which is stronger and more convincing than all verbiage. Today, in many countries of Asia and Europe, including Azerbaijan, carpet weaving has received a new impetus for development, which contributes not only to the introduction of advanced technologies into this important branch of the economy, but also to the restoration of historical traditions that elevated this craft to a high level of quality and the rank of art. In this regard, the restoration of identical copies of carpets, woven in Azerbaijan at different times and lost for one reason or another, is worthy of praise and imitation. These copies, as well as many masterpieces that claim to be works of art, are today exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art of Azerbaijan (Fig. 2).

Main economic factors affecting the development of carpet weaving and trade 

In Azerbaijan, as in all countries located along all trade routes going from East to West, carpet weaving farms of various sizes have been located since time immemorial. The development of this area of the economy, of course, was influenced by a number of important factors, among which economic ones came first. Thus, along the trade routes from China to the Mediterranean, the landscape, natural and climatic conditions, as well as the relief made it possible to successfully breed sheep and camels, which provided people not only with meat and milk, but also with high-quality wool. The wool of these animals was used to make many things, products and household items. For example, hats, clothing, bedding, blankets, soft and warm saddles for horses, capes for carts, coverings for roofs and floors of yurts, etc. However, the rapidly developing livestock industry, especially small ruminants, required that natural raw materials, which were in abundance, be directed to new sectors of the economy that could bring not only additional profit, but also provide the spiritual, moral and aesthetic needs of people. One of these industries was carpet weaving. It was carpet weaving that gave a new impetus to the development of many farms, which provided the necessary raw materials for the production of quality products. This included the breeding of special breeds of sheep and silkworms, the cultivation of the best varieties of cotton and the production of natural dyes. Thus, four important components - wool, silk, cotton and natural dyes - became the key elements that ensured a real revolution in human economic activity. The new situation contributed to the breeding of new breeds of fine-wool sheep (fine-fleece sheep were first bred in Asia Minor in the 5th-4th centuries BC), the wool of which was specifically intended for the production of carpets, the expansion and improvement of silk weaving, the introduction of new technologies for growing cotton, and finally, improving the quality of natural dyes and their corresponding components.

The fact that sheep wool has become the main element of carpet weaving is not an accident. As noted above, breeding small ruminants and especially breeding sheep provided eastern people with everything they needed - food, clothing and many household and household items. Another reason for the popularity of wool is its natural qualities - softness, wear resistance, comfort and ease of yarn dyeing and thermal insulation. But not all wool guaranteed high quality products - carpets, rugs or kilims - handmade double-sided lint-free carpets. To obtain the expected results, carpet craftsmen took into account some important features: the age of the animal (the wool of young sheep is thinner and of higher quality), the time of shearing (the most suitable time for shearing is autumn), the parts of the animals body from which the wool was sheared (the highest quality wool is the sheep grows on the back and around the neck), the landscape and area where the sheep are raised (highland landscape is the most suitable place for healthy raising of small cattle), and finally, the breed of sheep. To obtain the highest quality wool for carpet weaving enterprises, special, fine-wool breeds of sheep are bred on sheep farms, for example, Australian Merino, Salsky breed, Ramboulier, Prekos, Askanian breed. These breeds have wool that is white, uniform and very fine, with a sufficient amount of grease. The quality of carpets made from wool is enhanced by the addition of silk, cotton and natural dyes made from natural raw materials: indigofera (blue), madder root (bright red, brown), cochineal (red), acacia betel, oak bark, acorn husk, tea, walnut shell (black, brown), pomegranate peel (different shades of brown), henna (orange), lime (white), wormwood (greenish), turmeric (orange), etc. It should be noted that in order to obtain high-quality products, gradually camel and goat wool began to be excluded from the list of carpet weaving raw materials. Thus, the camel began to play only the role of the most convenient and hardy transport, which persistently and faithfully paved the paths for future great trade routes. 

Modern routes of the great silk road and new trends in the development of carpet weaving and rupe trade

Seven centuries have passed since Marco Polo (1254-1324, Venetian merchant and traveler) in his “Book on the Diversity of the World” called the great caravan routes “silk”. Today, along those “silk routes,” world trade and the trade missionaries who implement it are persistently breaking new routes for themselves. Thus, the grandiose trade route connecting different parts of the world for thousands of years, with its creative power and energy, erected large cities, created ethnic communities, new morals and customs. The main authors of the construction of silk routes in ancient and medieval history were the Turkic peoples inhabiting the vast territory of Asia, from Tibet to the eastern shores of the Mediterranean. And today, the main initiators of the economic integration of Asia and Europe, active trade and economic agents who sought to connect and bring East and West closer, are the Turkic peoples, who have sovereign states in the person of Turkey, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Modern Turkic states, extremely actively integrating into economic and political communities, today are even more actively fulfilling that important historical mission, which is to bring together different cultures and peoples, implement global trade and economic projects and establish new orders in geopolitics and geostrategies. As in the past, along modern routes of the Great Silk Road the main flow of goods is in the East-West direction. This once again proves the presence of countless riches in the East and confirms the fact of the inexhaustible natural energy and hard work of Eastern people. In the turbulent stream stretching from East to West, there is still a place for such ancient products as carpet. Despite the fact that it is now extremely difficult for a carpet to fit into the post-industrial appearance of modern society, with its specific morals, as before, every person who deeply loves and adequately appreciates work, spiritual strength and real beauty needs them. The great trade route, which has a centuries-old history, was first nicknamed “The Great Silk Road” in 1877 by the prominent German scientist Ferdinand Richthofen (1833-1905) in his book “China”, today is acquiring a new breath, an even more majestic appearance, as well as political and economic significance (Ball, 2016). This route, passing through mountains, deserts and seas, as a bridge of hope and salvation, ensures close and sustainable cooperation between the peoples of East and West.

Along the new route, peoples and states are reviving traditions, among which is carpet weaving. In this regard, our country is among the leaders. Today, Azerbaijan, located at the crossroads of important trade and economic routes, takes an active part in the creation of a modern socio-economic and socio-political world order and is one of the most active participants and implementers of the largest trade, economic and transport and logistics projects connecting East with West and Asia and Europe.

Suggestions

1) The topic of carpet weaving, which has important economic and cultural aspects and contributes to the disclosure of potential economic opportunities, which involves the expansion of trade routes and economic communications, should be studied even more deeply and fundamentally, presented as a subject of scientific discussion in even wider audiences and constantly studied at the academic level, level in relevant specialties.

2) The objects and events presented in the scientific article should be studied in more detail in further research. In this regard, all objects and events related to the main topic will be presented not as auxiliary elements, but as an integral part of the phenomenon being studied. At the same time, the scientific approach to it will be comprehensive. In addition, in subsequent studies, the area of the subject under study should be significantly expanded.

The first major project connecting different parts of the world was the Great Silk Road, which changed its appearance and routes over the centuries. Gaining an international character, trade opened up new and more extensive transport routes, economically and culturally connecting the peoples of the East and West. This trend was facilitated by many factors, including the development of carpet weaving and carpet trade. Thus, along the trade routes from China to the Mediterranean, the landscape, natural and climatic conditions, as well as relief made it possible to successfully breed sheep and camels, which provided people not only with meat and milk but also with high-quality wool. It was this important factor that steadily developed carpet weaving, and therefore trade routes for its transportation and sales. Azerbaijan has always been and today is on the route of the main trade flow from East to West, playing the role of the main connecting bridge between civilizations, peoples, and states. Today, in many countries of Asia and Europe, including Azerbaijan, carpet weaving has received a new impetus for development, which contributes not only to the introduction of the most advanced technologies into this important branch of the economy, but also to the restoration of historical traditions that elevated this craft to a high level of quality and rank art.

G.C.H.: Conceptualization and writing the manuscript. G.C.H.; and Z.N.N.: contributed in investigation, and visualization. Z.N.N.: finally checked the manuscript and editing, and funding acquisition. Both authors who are involved in this research read and approved the manuscript for publication.

The authors would like to thank the President of the Western Caspian University, Professor Huseyn Bagirov, for his support in promoting scientific research.

There is no conflict of research for this study.