Azerbaijan had a prominent economic role in the Persian economy, as well as in Silk Road trade, at the time of the Safavid dynasty, from the 15th to the 17th centuries. Textiles, silk, and spices were traded to Russia and the Ottoman Empire, while indigo was traded to Russia in exchange for silver Russian coins.
Textiles were an important component of trade along the Silk Road. Silk from Azerbaijan was highly valued by wealthy merchants from the West. Carpets also were of great importance in this trade. In exchange for European silver, carpets were traded along caravan routes to Europe.
Safavid silver coins were common along the Silk Road. Safavid merchants traded Indian silk, indigo, and spices to Europe, Russia, and the Ottoman Empire in exchange for silver coins. The Safavids then reminted the coins as abbasi, silver coins named after Shah ‘Abbas I (1571-1629). Merchants then traded the abbasi to Mughal traders from India, in exchange for more textiles, spices, and indigo, continuing the cycle.
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