Caszin Iran, Silk Road

Qazvin rests on a fertile plain at the southern foothills of the Alborz Mountains, strategically positioned at the crossroads of Tehran to the southeast, Tabriz to the northwest, and the Caspian Sea to the north. The Alborz Mountains dominate the northern horizon, providing a dramatic backdrop while feeding the streams that irrigate Qazvin's plain. Despite this, water resources in the area have always been limited, with the city historically relying on a single irrigation channel to sustain its fields. This scarcity made it difficult to meet the needs of a bustling trading town, preventing Qazvin from becoming a major hub despite its advantageous location.

European travellers in the Middle Ages who passed through Qazvin left contrasting impressions of the city. Some admired its architecture and strategic importance, while others were less enthused, remarking on its sparse resources and modest urban layout. Nonetheless, Qazvin maintained its role as a trading hub, dealing in luxury goods such as velvet, brocade, shagreen shoes, and gilded horse saddles. Shagreen, a type of rawhide, was especially valued for its durability and distinctive texture, making it a sought-after material in trade.

Qazvin was one of several centres for coin minting during the Sassanian era (3rd-7th century), producing silver drachms as the main currency. Initially struck locally, minting became centralised by the 5th century to control coin production. The value of these coins, however, was not dependent on the minting authority but rather on the precious metal they contained. Similarly, another widely used currency along the Silk Road was the gold solidus of the Byzantine Empire (Eastern Rome), whose value, based on the gold, was the same everywhere, regardless of where it was minted.

However, imitation coins made of precious metals were also common and used for bartering. Sogdian traders, who acted as middlemen, used both real and fake coins, helping people trade regardless of where the currency originated. 

Since currency wasn't always available, traders often used valuable items like gold and silver or goods like Indian sandalwood and Chinese silk. These goods were in high demand and could be easily traded for other things, making them a good substitute for coins along the Silk Road.

Qazvin's artistic heritage includes the delicate art of calligraphy. For centuries, the city's monuments have been decorated with beautiful calligraphic work, traditionally used to inscribe sacred texts like the Quran, as well as poetic verses, and the wise words of elders. The roots of calligraphy date to the 11th and 12th centuries and flourished during the Safavid era (1501-1722). Qazvin was also the birthplace of Iran's most celebrated calligrapher, Mir Emad Qazvini, whose works from the Safavid era are renowned and whose talented children, grandchildren, and son-in-law were all adept at the craft.