Samarkand

The Study of Social, Political, and Economic Aspects in the City of Samarkand

Faryn Solomon, Mackenzie Rinefierd, and Austin Gipson

Smithtown High School West

Mr. Ferrante

Pre A.P. World History

Abstract Samarkand belonged to various empires and dynasties between the years 600 to 1450 C.E. Originally founded by the Persians, Samarkand was eventually conquered by the Mongols, Arabs, Turks, and the Sassanid Empire. It was a city many people fought for because it had many benefits. Not only did it flourish economically and socially being in the heart of the Silk Routes, but it also developed some strong political aspects. Samarkand's convenient location made it desirable to empires and a popular place for craftsmen and merchants to visit. Artisans and scholars came to Samarkand because of its diverse and vast culture. Although Samarkand changed rulers numerous time; it remained a major trading city because of its unique location, a place of art and cultural interaction, and had a consistently stable and centralized government.

Introduction Throughout the years 600-1450 C.E., many Silk Route cities were established and became major interaction points in social, economical, and political ways. Samarkand was one of the cities that flourished during this time period. It was under the control of many empires, including the Mongols, Arabs, Turks, and the Sassanid Empire. Samarkand was a city many people eagerly wanted and fought for because of all its advantage points. It had a convenient location centered in the middle of trade in the Silk Routes, which made it desirable to many empires. Artisans and scholars also came to Samarkand because of its diverse and extensive culture. Although Samarkand changed rulers numerous times; it remained a major trading city because of its unique location, a place of art and cultural interaction, and had a consistently stable and centralized government.

Samarkand's Social Structure The city of Samarkand was known for its extensive and elaborate arts, and for its creativity. Of course over time that may have changed; but from the years 600 - 1450 C.E., Samarkand flourished in culture and social aspects. Also, because it was located along the Silk Routes, many of the traded items influenced life in Samarkand.

The clay in Samarkand was of great quality. This was a useful and important resource for the people because it provided a material to make products out of. For example, pottery and ceramics were made with the clay that was found in Samarkand. People made bowls, plates, cups, and more, which were then decorated with intricate designs. These designs were usually elaborate floral or geometric designs, or picture of people and animals. As time went on, the ceramics in Samarkand became even more complex. Soon people began to engrave Arabic words and inscriptions into the clay. The ceramics that contained inscriptions usually had a white background and were inscribed in brown, black, or sometimes red paint. At about the 10th century, the inscriptions became more intricate, and developed into script Arabic. During the 13th - 14th centuries, after the Mongol invasion, ceramics flourished even more than they had before, making Samarkand the biggest ceramic producing area at this time.

Because of the great quality of clay in Samarkand, other things besides ceramics could be created. One of Samarkand's rulers, Timur, helped greatly with the growth of architecture. Many famous mosques, mausoleums, and buildings were constructed, with Muslim style, giving Samarkand its extensive architecture. One building called the Bibi Khanum, is the most famous mosque in all of Samarkand and was built in honor of Timur's favorite wife. Timur's son, Uulgh Beg, who studied astronomy, had an observatory built called the Ulugh Beg Madrasah. Ulugh Beg turned Samarkand into a center of learning because of his previous studies. Thee Gut Emir, which means Tomb of the Ruler, was a complex structure which held and contained the remains of significant teachers and family members of the Timurid Dynasty.

Samarkand's convenient location on the Silk Routes gave it exposure to many religions and languages. However, the religion that remained in Samarkand was Islam, and a vast majority of the people spoke Arabic. The religion of Islam traveled to Samarkand by use of the Silk Route system, receiving converts along the way. Before Islam entered Samarkand, most people there practiced Hinduism and Buddhism. Islam was patriarchal, but it was less so than many other religions. The Quran, the Islamic holy book, told that a man could now only have four wives that he must provide for. Because of the limit for Muslim people, women were closer to reaching an equal status with men. The Quran also told that before Allah, the Islamic god, everyone was equal, making Islam the closest religion to becoming egalitarian.

The clothing that the people of Samarkand wore not only represented their culture, but also the gender roles. Both women and men wore clothing made out of home-made silk, or cotton. The casual, daily outfits that were worn were the same as the outfits for formal occasions. The only difference was the color and texture of the clothing. The style of the women's garments consisted of a very loose-fitting dress with trousers that were worn underneath. Women also wore robes, head wear, foot wear, and veils. The veils that they wore showed subservience to men. The veil was symbolic of protection and of ownership to a man. Men's clothing were similar to women's clothing in material, however men only wore shirts and trousers. On holidays, women would usually wear red clothing which was symbolic of a holiday, love, and fertility. With age, the general color of a women's outfit changed. Middle-aged women usually wore blue, while red was the color of a typical wedding dress. Older women dressed in white colors, and white was a symbol of clarification according to Sufi Islam beliefs. Samarkand was a weaving center, as it also had many other forms of art. Around the end of the 14th century, Samarkand became famous for its expensive crimson velvet.

The materials that were available in Samarkand and the materials of the trade routes influenced the art and culture in many ways. Samarkand was a city full of culture and arts where people from all over the empire came to visit the phenomenal artistic lifestyle. People came from all over, and they often traded using the Silk Routes. The use of the Silk Routes greatly helped strengthen the economy of Samarkand because it was located conveniently along these routes.

Samarkand’s Economy The economy and economic events in Samarkand were largely affected by its position on the Silk Routes. It was through this city and area, that China was connected to India and the Mediterranean. Traders from all over the world came to Samarkand. S ince it was near major trade cities, people would stop by and visit the city, using its various bazaars and shops as a place of trade. Even early on in its existence, busy communities of craftsmen worked and sold their goods. In some of the famous bazaars, such as one in Rigestan, middlemen would conduct their business of reselling items as was customary, and traveling merchants could rest before the next stage of their journey east or west, as well as sell off or buy some goods (if money and time permitted). Artisans also sold their goods in distinct bazaars which were reserved for different trade items/categories. Samarkand's economy also profited from the profitable trade in lapis lazuli, one of the region's more valuable and prosperous natural resources.

The economy of  Samarkandwas also affected by the large scale public projects commissioned by the active ruler. Even early on in Samarkand’s existence it had acquired an irrigation system, allowing for increased crop production and fertility. In approximately the eleventh century, some of the projects that the Mongolian King Timur added were a moat, broad battlements, and a wall that was five miles long to enclose the city. He also added six gates in the defensive wall, which opened into the streets that led towards Samarkand's center. The center of the city, known as the Rigestan Square (also called the Registan), was mainly for the public, and most likely contained bazaars as well as numerous palaces, fountains, and parks. The economic issues in Samarkand may have changed due to the rulers or empire it was under, as they were constantly changing. Samarkand’s Politics Samarkand’s political life was often altered during its constantly changing rulers. Throughout most of its lifetime, Samarkand contained a centralized stable government. The most recognizable ruler of Samarkand was Timur. He came to rule by conquering lands after the assassination of Genghis Khan. Timur was known as a vicious conqueror and political leader, but also someone who achieved many accomplishments through his ruling. He expanded his empire greatly during his rule. His military conquests first gave him control over Transoxiana, which was a major section of the Silk Road in Central Asia. Timur later conquered Persia, Moscow, Iraq, Mesopotamia, and many more cities. He used Samarkand as his capital city and home base. After each conquest he would return there to gather and reload or repair what was needed to defeat their next victims. Timur and the Mongols were such a military threat that they took control over India, Syria, and Turkey. In 1405 Timur died on the way to another conquer. Even though Samarkand was stable under his authority, when he died it deteriorated because of the lack of governmental structure. He was so focused on expanding his lands that he forgot to reinforce order after destroying the existing government.

Another time Samarkand was under a centralized government, or rule under one key leader, was when it was under the control of the Sassanid Empire. Sassanid rulers considered themselves the “King of Kings” and were the superior head of society. Both the Mongol Empire and the Sassanid Empire's government were controlled mainly by one man, but they also contained a similarity in the way the government interacted with the military. Rulers of Samarkand were often focused on expanding their lands and using military control to keep order in their civilizations. Timur’s military was a major threat to neighboring kingdoms, as was the Sassanid army.

Samarkand was popular among the rulers of empires in this time period. Numerous political leaders fought to have control over the lands of Samarkand. It was desired because of its distinctive location among the trade routes. Samarkand wasn’t only wanted for trade. Rulers were attracted to Samarkand for its social connections too. Timur used this capital city to house a religion. He made it one of the centers of the Islamic world. Political men knew how many people traveled through Samarkand for economical and social reasons, and pegged it to be on their wanted list. Having power over such an influential place like Samarkand could help a society flourish greatly.

Many Silk Route cities were established between 600 - 1450 C.E., and Samarkand was one of them. Samarkand had the perfect location for a trade city. Diverse ideas traveled there, allowing the city to flourish with creativity and culture. All of this combined made Samarkand extremely desirable and wanted by various rulers. Although the rulers were ever-changing, a strong and stable centralized system of rule was able to be kept throughout all of its time. Overall, Samarkand was a valuable city in all of its areas, including social, economic, and political ways of life.

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