Revenues from trade were of major importance for the Sasanian Empire, and rulers sought to maintain control over the routes. Towards the end of the 4th century AD there was widespread disruption and loss of Sasanian power as Central Asian Hephthalite Huns to the north and east of their lands established an extensive empire centred on Afghanistan and took control of major trade routes. As a result many Sasanians may have looked to sea-routes, as archaeological evidence has been found to prove Sasanian trade with India via the Persian Gulf.

Another important trading centre was the area of modern Yemen in South Arabia. Under Khusrau I (reigned 531-579) the rulers of Ethiopia attempted to expand their kingdom into the region. Khusrau reacted by making South Arabia a Sasanian dependency and Sasanian ships were said to be based at the port of Aden. These widespread trading connections resulted in Sasanian objects reaching China, Korea and Japan where the textiles, metalwork and glass were widely appreciated. A number of Sasanian or Central Asian silk textiles, hardstone vessels and cut glass also survive in western European treasures but many of these were brought from the east in later periods such as during the Crusades.