The Role of Iranian Culture and Brocade (Zarbaft) in Nomenclature of the Silk Road

The term "Silk Road" was first used in 1876 AD (1292 AH. / 1254 ASH.) by a German geographer and tourist during his travel to China. Richthofen chose this name for the vast network of roads connecting Asia and Europe, from the China Sea to Central and Western Asia, especially the Iranian plateau, and Anatolia to the Mediterranean coast. This nomenclature was influenced by several circumstances and factors at the time, and this article examines the background of this nomenclature and explores this question based on the explanation of historical and literary data: What role has Iranian culture and art, including brocade (Zarbaft) produced in Central Asia played in naming the network of ancient trade and cultural roads as the "Silk Road"? Much research has been done on the role of Iran and its culture and civilization on roads, cultural interactions, and the common heritage of roadside communities, but the role of Iranian culture, history, art, and heritage in nomenclature of the Silk Road has not been studied. Scholars attribute it to the culture and history and role of Chinese silk, and the Chinese silk trade, regardless of the time of its naming and the effective reasons for using the name Silk Road in the 19th century; but in the present article, the role of Iran and Iranian culture in this nomination has been studied.