The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences. Vol. XXXVII. Part B5. Beijing 2008 
of considered time period were shown (before GSR - Persia, 
India, North side of Black Sea, South Urals, Siberia; at time of 
GSR - China, Persia, Siberia, South Kazakhstan, Seven Rivers 
region, India, Afghanistan, Tibet, Badakhshan, Volga side, 
Alania, Byzantium, Arabia; after the GSR - China, Persia, 
Afghanistan, India, Siberia, Tibet, Russia). 
Historic analysis of commercial relationships of Nuratau 
region: Nuratau area played an important role for economical 
and political development of Central Asian population, which 
was conditioned by its convenient physic-geographical 
peculiarities and geographic-strategical location. Nuratau area 
was a strategic crossroads transit centre providing international 
and regional communications during more than 35 centuries. 
At period before GSR, there were old caravan roads in Nuratau 
area. They connected domestic, local and subregional centres 
each with other. An important commercial transit routes linked 
Central Asia with Persia, India, Seven-Rivers region, Volga side, 
South Urals and Siberia. In period from 15 till 6 centuries B.C. 
mines functioned in subregional centres (Central Kyzylkums, 
Zirabulak-Ziatdin mountains, south and north slops of Nuratau 
ridge). There, flint, turquoise, tin, copper, silver, gold, iron and 
lead were mined (Mirbabaev, 1961; Aleskerov, 1974; Shtek, 
1996; Buryakov, 2003; Nemceva, 2004). Output of the centres 
was exported in East and India (Savchuk-Kurbanov, 2006). In 
the same period of time immigrants from Khorezm and 
Samarkand were developing intensively gorges of Nuratau for 
agricultural needs (Kamelin and etc., 1990). This way, in 
ancient times through Nuratau area commercial roads 
connecting subregional mining centres, agricultural and 
breeding regions with the other cultural regions passed. The 
roads lay in eastern and western parts of the region. 
Roads at period of GSR: Through Nuratau area a segment of 
North road of GSR connected with the other roads and their 
branches passed. Thanks to it, Nuratau area had economical 
relationships with Ferghana, China, Persia, Afghanistan, India, 
Arabia, Volga side, North side of Black Sea, Byzantium and 
indirectly with Europe. By that route silk fabrics and mirrors of 
bronze passed from China to area of lower Volga and North 
side of Black sea through Nuratau area being transit zone. 
By the time, relating to political and climatic changes directions 
of the routes were alternating (Minuyoshi, 1975). For instance, 
at 6 century through commercial contradictions of Soghdians 
and Sasanian Iran transit road was blocked. That stimulated 
drawing a new detour road through Syrdarya - North side of 
Aral Sea and further along north shore of Caspian Sea to the 
West. At beginning of 13 century, that road was destroyed by 
Mongols (till 16 century). 
Roads at period after GSR: In period from 16 till 19 centuries 
the commerce became dealing more with China, Tibet, Persia, 
India and Russia. After middle of 19 century, commercial 
relations tended to China, India (but up to 1880 y. they 
sufficiently weakened) and Persia. Commercial relationships 
with many of foreign countries and subregions were slowly 
reduced and tended more to the Persia ((up to 1908 y. there 
were a close commercial contacts (Bumasheva, 1969)) and 
Russian Empire (Troitsk, Orenburg, Krasnovodsk, Lower 
Novgorod). That was provided by politics of Russian Empire 
and ‘building railway on South side of Caspian Sea’ (Vasil’ev, 
1947). In period after middle of 19 century commercial activity 
replaced from Bukhara to Samarkand and Tashkent. 
Discussion 
Main result - it have been cleared up that Nuratau area was not 
disconnected from world commerce in the Past. Moreover, the 
region was an important chain both in the world economy and 
in the regional one. Changes happened in the world trade had an 
affect on the region. So, at 6 century a road to West passing 
through Persia was blocked. Immediately after that in Nuratau 
area detour road through Kyzylkums - Otrar and further to east 
appeared. There are lots of such examples, but restriction of 
volume of the article does not allow presenting almost of them. 
It is interesting that at 16 century through Nuratau area a direct 
way to western Siberia lay. This way study of history of 
commercial relationships of Nuratau area breakthrough the 
frames of our local consideration. But such studies are 
significant for better understanding of whole history of Central 
Asia. We plan to create a multimedia atlas on all commerce- 
cultural relationships of Nuratau area in the Future. 
3. CONCLUSIONS 
Data on development of commerce-cultural relationships of 
Nuratau region during nearly 35 centuries were obtained. Main 
directions of commercial routes at different periods relating to 
GSR existence were recognized. (Before GSR - Central 
Kyzylkums, South Ural, Sibiria. Seven-Rivers region, East 
Kazakhstan, Persia, India; GSR - China, India, Persia, Arabia, 
Sibiria. Volga side, Alaniya, Byzantium, South Kazakhstan, 
Moscowia; After GSR - China, India, Tibet, Afghanistan, 
Persia, Russia). 
Locations of commercial roads existed in Nuratau region in 
periods 15-6 centuries B.C., from 6B.C.to 13 century and 16-17 
centuries were reconstructed. 
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