Abstract
In their paper "The Marginocentric Cultural Features of Cities along the Great Silk Road in the territory of Kazakhstan," Ainura Kurmanaliyeva, Nurlykhan Aljanova and Mira Manassova discuss the cultural features of the Great Silk Road as a marginocentric dialogic location. Among the ancient cities in the territory of Kazakhstan, the paper focuses on the city of Otrar. The city dated from the Persian Empire, when it was known as Fārāb, meaning irrigated lands. Otrar was the birth-place of philosopher and scientist Al Farabi, also known as the 'second teacher' after Aristotle, an important influence on Avicenna and Maimonides. Al Farabi's works can be said to tend a bridge between Eastern and Western philosophical and political systems, connecting also a wide range of disciplines. The last part of the paper discusses the project "Revival of the Great Silk Road" which provides an opportunity for Kazakhstan to implement the advantages of its geographical position, aiming at the modernization of existing cultural sites along the Silk Road, rediscovered as intercultural locations, as well as supporting the creation of jobs and the improvement of living standards in local areas.