The Development of Silk Road Economics and Coins

This study focuses on the economic developments after the opening of the silk road and the money which is the most important element of these developments. In China, the opening of the Silk Roads in the Han Dynasty led to significant economic developments. The important forces of the period that are active or contributed on the Silk Road have come face to face or side by side for political or economic purposes. Thanks to this commercial network, monetary economy has developed in this part of the world and the material values of gold, silver, copper and bronze are more clearly demonstrated. Coins and various goods manufactured from these were used as money. Silk is the most favorable and valid money of the commercial roads called silk road from the beginning and It has expanded its influence and journey from China to India and Byzantium. It is seen that other products such as cotton and grain are used as intermediate goods in these commercial routes. The economic and political history and development of the Silk Road, which is an international commercial network, can be understood through these funds. These funds can be traced in the oasis cities of Turkestan geography such as Hotan, Kucha, Turfan and all the silk roads. Gold coins from India and Rome, the silver coins of the Parthians and Sasanians, the silk, copper and bronze coins of the Chinese were counted as foreign currency. These funds should be evaluated in terms of their material values as well as their impact areas and qualifications. The Turks, who are a permanent part of the history of the Silk Road, have adopted more barter in the trade from the very beginning and chose to use the silk as money. Akhunlar and the Gok-Turks had coins, but in general they were interested in the economic gains in silk and the political rulers of the commercial roads. The economic relations of the Uighurs with the states in China have left these states in a difficult financial situation and caused other financial materials like checks to be used in China