Around 700 AD, the Badakhshan region of Afghanistan became a crucial source of lapis lazuli, a prized gemstone traded along the Silk Road to Europe and Asia. This vibrant blue stone was highly sought after for its beauty and was used in jewelry, art, and even as a pigment in painting. The trade of lapis lazuli not only contributed to the economy of the region but also facilitated cultural exchanges between distant civilizations.

The Afghan lapis lazuli trade in 700 AD evoked deep blue skies and divinity in medieval and Sufi poetry. Poets like Rumi used the stone as a metaphor for spiritual enlightenment, intertwining beauty and transcendence in their verses, and reflecting the cultural significance of this precious gem.