Khorasan Highway and Its Socio-Economic Impact on Jovain Province (3-7 Century AH)

Khorasan highway was the most important connecting route of Iran since the second century A. H up to the Mongols invasion. It connected Khorasan, Transoxiana, and Turkistan to the west part of Iran and Mesopotamia. This highway had different branches, one of these branches passed the distance between Neyshabur and Bastam i.e Jovain. This route well received and was taken more than its parallel rout by travelers (i.e Neyshabur-Sabzevar-Bastam). This research studied the economic-cultural effects of the road on Jovian. The findings showed that locating a lot of villages along the road provided foodstuff for the travelers and fodder for their animals. It could be the main reason for their choice. On the other hand, this road provided a good opportunity for trading, importing and exporting local goods. This contributed to the prosperity of the region. Also, some scholars and great men who traveled by this road stayed there for a short time and this too had a cultural effect on Jovian. Traveling easily to Neyshabur at East and Rai at West was another advantage of taking this route.