THE ROLE OF THE KHANATES OF CENTRAL ASIA IN THE FORMATION OF THE GREAT SILK ROAD

This study analyzes the political and economic functions of the medieval khanates in Central Asia and their contribution to the development of transcontinental trade networks known as the Silk Road. With stable governance and security provided by militarized khanates such as the Khwarezmians, Karakhanids and the Mongol Empire, land routes flourished connecting China, India, Persia and the Mediterranean world. Merchants used this stability to expand trade in luxury goods and necessities, including silk, spices, glassware, paper, and more. The khanates grew wealthy by serving as hubs where goods from different empires were stored, sorted, and redistributed along routes. Through taxes and transit fees, the Central Asian powers financed further infrastructure and diplomatic efforts to maintain open corridors, thereby institutionalizing the Silk Road system throughout Eurasia for centuries.