Sogdian and Turkic Caravan Middlemen on the Silk Roads (4th–10th centuries)

1. Sogdian “Ancient Letters” written in China

   Jan 1, 312Labels: Sogdian merchants, China

   • Smithsonian
   • Brill

2. “Sabao” offices formalize Sogdian merchant leadership in China

   Jan 1, 501Labels: Sabao offices, Sogdian community

   • Sabao
   • Smithsonian

3. Göktürk Khaganate founded, enabling steppe-caravan alliances

   Jan 1, 552Labels: G kt, Turkic polity

   • Britannica
   • First Turkic

4. Tomb of Wirkak (Sogdian sabao) dates to 580

   Jan 1, 580Labels: Wirkak, Sogdian sabao

   • Wirkak
   • Sabao

5. Second Turkic Khaganate re-established under Ilterish Qaghan

   Jan 1, 682Labels: Second Turkic, Ilterish Qaghan

   • Second Turkic
   • Ilterish

6. Orkhon monuments erected for Kül Tigin

   Jan 1, 732Labels: Orkhon inscriptions, K l

   • Britannica
   • Old Turkic

7. Uyghur Khaganate replaces the Second Turkic Khaganate

   Jan 1, 744Labels: Uyghur Khaganate, Uyghur rulers

   • Uyghur
   • Ordu Baliq

8. Battle of Talas curtails Tang power in Transoxiana

   Jan 1, 751Labels: Battle of, Tang dynasty

   • Talas
   • Transoxiana

9. An Lushan rebellion triggers backlash against Sogdian-Turkic elites

   Dec 16, 755Labels: An Lushan

   • Britannica
   • An Lushan

10. Uyghur adoption of Manichaeism amplifies Sogdian religious-commercial ties

    Jan 1, 763Labels: Uyghur adoption, Manichaeism

    • WHC
    • B g

11. Samanid Empire consolidates Transoxiana’s urban-commercial core

    Jan 1, 819Labels: Samanid Empire, Transoxiana

    • Samanids
    • Transoxiana

12. Kyrgyz sack Ordu-Baliq, collapsing the Uyghur Khaganate

    Jan 1, 840Labels: Yenisei Kyrgyz, Ordu-Baliq

    • Uyghur
    • Ordu Baliq

13. Karakhanids take Bukhara, ending Samanid rule in 999

    Jan 1, 999Labels: Karakhanids, Bukhara

    • Karakhanids
    • Wars

14. Aurel Stein discovers the Sogdian Ancient Letters

    Jan 1, 1907Labels: Aurel Stein, Ancient Letters

    • Smithsonian
    • Stein