At the crossroads between Asia and Europe, Azerbaijan exported abroad cotton, silk, carpets, palases, decorations, spices, rice, nuts, oil, salt, various kinds of arms; exported various furs and leathern products, honey, wax, flax, arms, etc.
In the 15 century, ties of Azerbaijan with European countries increasingly expanded. At the crossroads between Asia and Europe, Azerbaijan exported abroad cotton, silk, carpets, palases, decorations, spices, rice, nuts, oil, salt, various kinds of arms; exported various furs and leathern products, honey, wax, flax, arms, etc. Azerbaijani traders successfully operated in Trabzon, Trablus, Istanbul, Bursa, Konya, Beirut, Aleppo, etc. Expansion of trade led to the development of Azerbaijani towns.
In the reviewed period, Shemakha was not only capital of Shirvanshahs but also one of the major international centers of silk trade. It was a local cocoon that turned this town into a major center of silkworm-breeding. Sold at the Shemakha market was various silk fabrics, cotton goods, precious stones; merchants from Russia, East and Europe traded in Shemakha. According to data available, Shemakha occupied an area of 100-200 ha with 5,000 houses.
Tabriz was one of the biggest centers of the Near and Middle East. It produced silk and cotton fabrics, shawls, carpets, jewelries, arms. A four-colored silk fabric manufactured in Tabriz titled “Derai-yi-gessab” brought fame to all arts of Azerbaijan.
Baku was a large port city. It was surrounded by fortress walls. Oil, saffron and other goods were exported from Baku to Astrakhan, Central Asia and southern provinces of the Caspian Sea; oil and salt produced in the environs.
Gyandja, Nakhchivan, Maraga, Ardebil were Azerbaijan’s biggest towns; Gyandja was famous for its fabrics, Nakhchivan for its wooden articles.