Sogdian city-states

Coin of Khunak, one of the rulers of Bukhara.

The Sogdian city-states refers to a number of independent or autonomous city-states in the Iranian region of Sogdia in late antiquity and the medieval period.^[1] Most of the city-states were ruled by a king or queen, who was called "first among equals".^[2] However, the succession of rule was not stable, and the people could influence who would become the new ruler.^[2] The period, which experienced its peak in the 7th century, ended with the conquest of Transoxiana by the Islamic Caliphate.^[1]

Bukhara and Samarkand – the famous cities of Persian literature – were the largest and wealthiest Sogdian states.^[1]

See also

• Principality of Khuttal
• Principality of Chaghaniyan
• Bukhar Khudahs
• Principality of Farghana
• Principality of Ushrusana

References

1. Marshak, B. I. 1996. ‘Sughd and Adjacent Regions’. In B. A. Litvinsky (ed.), Co-editors: Zhang Guang-da and R. Shabani Samghabadi. History of Civilizations of Central Asia. The Crossroads of Civilizations: A.D. 250 to 750. Volume III. Paris: UNESCO. p.242
2. De la Vaissière, E. 2005. Sogdian Traders: a History. Translated by James Ward. Leiden; Boston: Brill. p.167