Plant introduction along the Great Silk road: historical and geographical analysis and impact on cultural landscapes of Eurasia

   The subject of this study is the introduction of cultivated and useful plants along the routes of the Great Silk Road and their impact on the formation of cultural landscapes in Eurasia.

   The research methods include historical-geographical and landscape analysis, as well as the use of archaeobotanical and ethnobotanical data supplemented by information from historical sources. The study examines key introduced species (grapevine, pomegranate, tea, cotton, saffron), their migration pathways, forms of acclimatization, and zones of naturalization.

   The findings indicate that the exchange of plants contributed to the development of sustainable agroecosystems, garden and park culture, as well as food and medicinal diversity.

   The Great Silk Road is viewed as a biocultural corridor that united the landscapes of the East and West. The article also provides recommendations for integrating historically significant species into contemporary landscape and ecological design. The results can be utilized for the preservation of agro-biodiversity and the creation of sustainable territories with consideration of cultural heritage.

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