Overland Connectivity Between India and Central Asia in Delhi Sultanate and the Early Mughal Period. A detailed analysis of the Trade Routes

Abstract

Central Asia’s pivotal role as a crossroads of civilizations has historically shaped the patterns of commerce, cultural exchange, and diplomatic relations across the Asian continent. This study focuses on the development and impact of overland connectivity between Central Asia and India during the Delhi Sultanate and early Mughal period (8th-16th centuries CE), examining how these historical networks established enduring frameworks for regional interaction. Through analysis of primary sources, and contemporary accounts, the article explores the complex web of trade routes, commercial infrastructure, and merchant communities that facilitated cross-regional exchanges. It reveals how Central Asian trade routes, particularly through the strategic Khyber, Bolan, and Gomal passes, served not merely as commercial arteries but as vital channels for cultural diffusion and technological transfer. These corridors fostered sophisticated systems of commercial organization, including standardized financial instruments like the hundi system, elaborate trading networks maintained by communities such as the Khatri and Marwari merchants, and advanced infrastructure exemplified by strategically placed caravanserais and fortified trading posts. The article is devoted to examining the complex network of overland trade connectivity between India and Central Asia during the Delhi Sultanate and early Mughal period.

Keywords

• connectivity
• india
• central asia
• overland trade routes
• delhi sultanate
• caravanserais
• merchant communities
• cultural exchange
• khyber pass
• medieval commerce
• indo-central asian trade
• commercial infrastructure
• trade commodities