THE REGIONAL ASPECTS OF THE GREAT SILK ROAD
The article is devoted to the regional aspects of the Great Silk Road. On the basis of written and archaeological sources attempts are made to reconstruct the routes of the Silk Road which traversed the southern regions of Russia in Middle Ages. In order to get from the Azov Sea and trade centers in the Lower Volga to the markets of Majar and Derbent, caravan leaders preferred to choose direct and convenient routes through the territory of modern Republic of Kalmykia. This is evidenced by the excavations of archaeological sites, rich of variety of imported supplies and also by photos from satellites indicating the existence of ancient trade routes.