The Ancient Silk Road The socio-economic and political aspects of restoration   The ancient route(s) Numerous sources have mentioned various routes for the "Silk Road."Some sources consider the city of "Tun Huang" as the origins of the "Silk Road, located in the western most tip of the Wall of China, while others strongly suggest that the starting point of the said road was in the city of "Loyang" on the south-bank of Huang Ho River. Once reaching the vast "Pamir-Plateau" in Afghanistan, a branch of this ancient road passed through Marv, Samarghand and then led towards iran via Neyshabur.   Marv, Samarghand and then led towards Iran via Neyshbur. In its path the "Silk Road" also connected main cities such as Gorgan, Ray, Hamadan and further joined Iraq through Ghasr-e-Shirin and later arrived at its final land destination adjacent to the Mediterranean coast. As its name clearly suggests, the main role of this ancient road was expediting the safe and easy transport of many important goods from China to Venice among which silk was the incomparable merchandise of the time. For eighteen centuries (BC 200-AD 1600) the ancient world's most principal commercial highway, the "Silk Road" 8000 km in lenght, enomously contributed to meaningful intercontinental, traditional, and cultural exchanges which also give a fresh impetus to commercial development in the region       According to Christiansen: "because the ancient Persians exclusively imported huge quantities of silk from China they were thus able to sell their silk-orientated products in various European markets, at their own desired prices. The Turks' efforts to gain permission for the passage of silk across the Iranian territory were all to no avail and a long and persistent conflict between the Byzantine Empire (395-1453 AD) and the Persians, over the transit of Chinese silk, continued throughout the early centuries of the Middle Ages." Later the Roman and the Chinses attempts at establishing a new silk transit route, without involvement of the Persians, also proved fruitless and even enabled the Persian merchants to control the silk trade particularly throughout Indo-China   Once the Europeans gained complete dominance over East India and the Mediterranean sea routes, at the turn of the 15th Century, their respective companies in the orient also turned their immediate attention to these new routes. In addition, a number of crucial events such as rapid decline in silk production within Persian territories, the oscillation of diplomatic ties between the Ottoman Empire (C1300-1918) and the Persians, and the emergence of new rival silk exporters eventually paved the way for the ironic demise of the ancient "Silk Road."   Fortunately, from now on, all the countries in the region will not only celebrate the 24th of Ordibehesht as the inauguration day of Mashad-Tajan rail ways, but also would acclaim this historic occasion as the anniversary of the revival of the " Ancient Silk Road." The following is an excerpt from the opening speech by the former Iranian president Mr. Rafsanjani: "The occurrence of great events during the early years of the last decade of the 20th Century as well as the emergence of new conditions in the region have led the Islamic Republic of Iran to play its key and proper role, in this decisive era, by renovating the Silk Road as the region's most vital connecting bridge which would further link the countries of the north with those in the Orient -- via the Islamic Republic of Iran... ."