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Merv Oasis City

Type Object Region Central Asia Time c. 701–800

Merv, in the Murghab River basin of modern Turkmenistan, was a key giant oasis city on the Silk Road, linking eastward to Persia, southward to India …

Timeline

  1. c. 701–747Merv · KhorasanIn the early 8th century Merv was one of the most important cities of the Umayyad governorate of Khorasan, sustaining a large population through the Murghab irrigation system, and serving as a core base for troop assembly, tax collection and resupply of Silk Road caravans.
  2. c. 748–762Merv · KhorasanWhile the Abbasid family rose in Khorasan, Merv provided troops and material support, becoming a key rear base for overthrowing the Umayyads, and its political status rose accordingly.
  3. c. 751–800Merv · KhorasanAfter the Battle of Talas the Abbasids consolidated influence east of Transoxiana; Merv continued to govern trade routes leading east to the Sogdian cities and the steppe, maintaining indirect trade and envoy exchanges with the Tang dynasty.

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