The Foreign Trade of Balkh, Badakhshan, and Kunduz and Russia’s Trade Interests in the 19th Century

The article is devoted to the history of foreign trade relations between the Central Asian possessions of Balkh, Badakhshan and Kunduz during the 19th century. Special attention is paid to the trade and economic relations of these states with the Russian Empire through the lands of the Kazakhs, Bukhara, and Kokand. In Russia, the lands of Balkh, Badakhshan and Kunduz were considered important transit centers of trade routes from Central Asia to Afghanistan and India. The article describes the characteristics of goods delivered from Russia to South Turkestan, as well as goods from Balkh, Kunduz and Badakhshan sold on the Russian market. The role of transit trade in the development of trade and economic relations between the Russian Empire and these countries is determined. Based on the assessments of Russian travelers, envoys, and scientists of the 19th century, the perception of the region’s markets in Russia and their importance for domestic foreign trade and the economy is presented. The article describes the main trade routes in the region, trade centers in Balkh, Badakhshan and Kunduz, their connections with foreign markets, and emphasizes the importance of importing lapis lazuli from the territory of Badakhshan to Russia. The article is mainly based on rarely used and poorly studied sources in Russian, English and French. The presented material lays down the main approaches to further study of the history of foreign trade in Balkh, Kunduz and Badakhshan in the 19th century and Russian foreign trade relations with these countries.