Kyrgyzstan and the Silk Road
A lot of caravan routes on the Silk Road changed from time to time, except for those basic directions from the East to the West and from the West to the East.
The route passing through Kyrgyzstan always remained the same due to its nearness to the Tien-Shan and Pamir mountains.
In the Middle Ages the following routes of the Silk Road passed through the territory of modern Kyrgyzstan - Pamir-Alay, Fergana, and Chuya.
The first branch went from Termez through Samarkand, along the inflow of the Kyzyl-Suu to Alay and led to Kashgar.
Fergana line went from Samarkand through Khujand to the city of Osh. Osh was the main intermediate trade point whence caravans went further to Kashgar across the Torugart Pass.
The third branch passed from Zamin Rabat to Tashkent, Ispedzhab, Taraz, Nuzket (Kara-Balta) and Balasagyn (Buran). From there caravans traveled along the Boom Canyon to reach the Issyk-Kul area and further to China across the San-Tash range.
The presence of caravan routes led to the emergence and growth of rich cities, trade and craftsmen’s villages, caravanserais – Dzhul, Suyab, Novokent, Balasagyn,Boroskohon, Tash Rabat, Osh, and Uzgen. The medieval Kyrgyzstan became one of the cultural centers of ancient Turkic people.
Until now the territory of Kyrgyzstan preserves the memories in the form of monuments located on the Silk Road: Kumbez Manas, caravanserai “Tash-Rabat” (9th century), Burana Tower, Mount Suleiman (Suleiman-Too), Uzgen architectural complex, Shah-Fazil mausoleum.
Njia ya Silk Road ilibadilika mara kwa mara, isipokuwa kwa njia za msingi kutoka Mashariki hadi Magharibi na kutoka Magharibi hadi Mashariki. Njia iliyopita kupitia Kyrgyzstan daima ilibaki sawa kwa sababu ya ukaribu wake na milima ya Tien-Shan na Pamir. Katika Enzi za Kati njia zifuatazo za Barabara ya Hariri zilipita katika eneo la Kyrgyzstan ya kisasa - Pamir-Alay, Fergana, na Chuya. Tawi la kwanza lilitoka Termez kupitia Samarkand, kando ya mtiririko wa Kyzyl-Suu hadi Alay na kuongoza Kashgar. Mstari wa Fergana ulianzia Samarkand kupitia Khujand hadi jiji la Osh. Osh ilikuwa kituo kikuu cha biashara cha kati ambapo msafara uliendelea kwenda Kashgar kupitia Mlango-Bahari wa Torugart. Tawi la tatu lilipita kutoka Zamin Rabat hadi Tashkent, Ispedzhab, Taraz, Nuzket (Kara-Balta) na Balasagyn (Buran). Kutoka huko, magari-moshi yalienda kwenye Bonde la Boom ili kufika eneo la Issyk-Kul na kuendelea hadi China kupitia safu ya milima ya San-Tash. Uwepo wa njia za msafara ulisababisha kuibuka na ukuaji wa miji tajiri, biashara na vijiji vya mafundi, caravanserais <unk> Dzhul, Suyab, Novokent, Balasagyn, Boroskohon, Tash Rabat, Osh, na Uzgen. Kyrgyzstan ya enzi za kati ikawa mojawapo ya vituo vya kitamaduni vya watu wa kale wa Kituruki. "Hata sasa eneo la Kyrgyzstan lina kumbukumbu katika fomu ya makaburi yaliyoko kwenye Barabara ya Silk: ""Kumbez Manas,"" ""Karavanserai"" (Kizazi cha 9), ""Burhan Tower,"" ""Mlima Sulayman,"" ""Uzhevan"" (Kizazi cha 9), ""Uzhevan"" (Kizazi cha 8) na ""Shah Fazil"" (Kizazi cha 9)."