The lecture will tell listeners about the great river along which people, goods, and ideas traveled. For centuries, the Volga River connected cities, markets, craft centers, and remote territories. Here, trade traditions were formed, routes were established, and the influence of the merchant class grew. The lecture will discuss why the Volga became the key transport corridor of the country. Listeners will learn how salt, fish, and bread turned it into a major economic center, why the Volga routes mattered far beyond the coastal cities, and how connections with Persia and the Caucasus were built through them. Special attention will be given to the famous markets and fairs where the interests of merchants, carriers, and buyers intersected, and how everyday business life sometimes appeared no less dramatic than major historical events. The lecture will be conducted by historian and Moscow expert Evgeny Melekhov.