In fact, evidence found near Ghur, east of Herat in central Afghanistan, tells of the presence of an Jewish settlement. Jewish tombstones and memorial tablets, dating back to 11-13th century, found in this area, suggest that a jewish settlement was in existence and travellers passed through it during their journeys across the Silk Road.
The jews seems to have taken up trade as their occupation, due to many restriction laid upon them by both the Eastern Roman Empire and later the Islam conquest of the regions they inhabited. They were mostly regarded as second class citizens and provided with limited opportunities, alongside restriction on their lives. However, it seems that in both periods, they were allowed to become merchants without any travel restrictions. Thus, they became part of the trade along the Silk Road, and many of them settled in regions across it. Some even made it as far as China and made settlements there. Evidence shows that they either took the sea route to Khanfu or the land route to Kaifing, capital of Hanon province.
So, it seems, according to a wide range of evidence, that jews were not only present across different settlements in the Silk Road, but that they were also very active in trade, especially the silk trade. Jewish settlements can be traced to 9-13th century across the Persian Empire to eastern regions of the Silk Road in China.
An interesting fact to note, is that unlike their Muslim counterparts, the Jewish merchants did not face restrictions or hostility when they traveled to Christian regions and were more free to conduct their business.
