Samarkand

Timeline

1. c. 200–650Samarkand · Sogdian regionAs a major Sogdian trade-route town, Samarkand connected Persia, India, and China proper, renowned for trade in metalware, textiles, and horses.
2. c. 712–1000Samarkand · Islamic worldAfter the Arab conquest the city became Islamic, forming the core of the Khorasan–Transoxiana cultural sphere, with mosques and madrasas gradually built.
3. c. 1121–1130Samarkand · Seljuk sphere of influenceIn the 1120s Samarkand was still a must-pass point for Eurasian caravans, gathering Chinese silk, Persian silverware, and steppe horses; its markets and postal relay system supported intercontinental trade.
4. c. 1200–1220Samarkand · KhwarazmUnder Khwarazmian rule the city continued to prosper, but political fragmentation and the approaching shadow of the Mongol conquests loomed, while Silk Road trade still maintained a relatively high volume.