Sogdiana - Silk Road's Forgotten Civilization - Ancient History DOCUMENTARY

[@KingsandGenerals]

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[@mudassirkhan715]

Please do a documentary on Afghans also called the Pashtuns living in Afghanistan and North Western Pakistan

[@minoru-kk]

As a Far Eastern Buddhist, I cannot overstate the importance of Sogdians. Without them there would be no us. Ancient Silk Road traders deserve more recognition

[@sterlingpratt5802]

Right. We Buddhists in the West also need to become more aware of Mahayana as a Central Asian phenomenon and the sutras composed in the early CE speaking (in part) to disputes with dualists such as the Manichaeans and Zoroastrians. Some even believe that Bodhidharma himself was a Sogdian.

[@beastjemzo]

@@sterlingpratt5802idiots

[@a.m2342]

چین که تمام میشده ایران یا همان پارس شروع میشده نمیدونم چرا به وشور ایران میگن جاده ابریشم؟؟

[@jacenath8197]

Mahayana Buddhism is not a central Asian “phenomenon.” This branch of Buddhism developed in India, with significant elements coming from the Mahasanghika School followed in today’s Andhra Pradesh, and spread from there towards Central Asia, East Asia, and the Himalayas (of India, Nepal, and Tibet). There is a substantial breadth of scholarly work to support this. Mahayana was also followed heavily in northern and eastern India until it was eventually assimilated into Hinduism. There are still communities who follow Mahayana and Vajrayana in northern India and Bangladesh today though. The origins of Bodhidharma are debatable, but multiple factors and much scholarly literature points to him being a Tamil prince. Bodhidharma is still venerated in Tamil Nadu, with many Tamils considering him and Dhanvantri Siddha or Bogar Siddha to be the same (Bogar is sometimes identified with Lao Tzu instead).

[@jacenath8197]

Central Asia was essential to the spread of Mahayana, but it wasn’t the origin of it.

[@ShermukhammadKarimov]

I am from Uzbekistan and have been following you for a long time. Thanks immensely for making this great documentary about this region's history.

[@Mr.KaganbYaltrk]

@@ShermukhammadKarimov Hello My Türkic brother 🇺🇿❤️🇹🇷

[@sabirovlochinbek775]

I think I'm the only one who followed this channel in my country, really cool that I have a mistaken

[@imbw80]

⁠@@sabirovlochinbek775 men ham shunday deb uylagandim

[@ShermukhammadKarimov]

​@@sabirovlochinbek775 yes, it is nice to see more and more people are getting interested in Central Asian history. Our history was glorious with its vibrant cultures, trade and empires.

[@ChrisTheLoneWanderer]

​@@ShermukhammadKarimovHaving been to Samarkand and Termez, Central Asian history is criminally underrated. It's seen as a "frontier" for so many big cultures, then really it is a nexus for them all.

[@jorgedeanoperez2997]

I've always had a huge fascination with Samarkand. There's something so evocative about a city literally in the heart of the old world, and the civilization that called it home... Thank you for covering this!

[@afrosiyabkubborov615]

​​@@sobolzeev Что Тамерлан что другие варвары с севера только что и делали разрушали то что строили оседлые народы, сначала согдийцы потом их потомки таджики. Тамерлан обычный головорез и бандит.

[@afrosiyabkubborov615]

I am from Tajikistan, thanks to the author for such a wonderful documentary about our ancestors. My ancestors, the Sogdians, lived in the upper reaches of the Zarafshan River, not far from Panjakent. After the Islamic conquests, they switched to Persian, but our language still contains individual Sogdian words.

[@NotSimpleHistory]

The story of Sogdiana feels like a hidden gem of ancient history; it’s incredible how this civilization was so pivotal in the Silk Road trade yet often overlooked. Their role as cultural and commercial intermediaries shows how vital they were in connecting East and West, fostering exchanges that shaped the ancient world.

[@javablanca547]

They did not connect anything. The trade was going to flow no matter who was there. Sogdiana profited from the trade. They had NOTHING to do with the production or the consuming of the goods traded.

[@JuniusTarquiniusDives]

By the gods! You made a video about my ancestors! I could kiss you. Thank you for making this. Sogdians are so under covered. ❤

[@SikkeOst]

The Sogdians have music preserved in Japanese and Chinese court music funnily enough. One such song was the Wine Puppet, look it up.

[@MadMamluk88]

I believe it

Japanese didn't preserve Sogdian music but Chinese music.

[@fungisrock8955]

If the Chinese got music from the Sogdians and the Japanese got music from the Chinese that means they could have gotten Sogdian music from the Chinese.

[@SikkeOst]

You can do both, like I said the wine puppet song is of Sogdian origin and traveled to Japan via the T'ang.

[@SikkeOst]

If you want to listen btw its called Jiu Huzi. Tomoko Sugawara does a very excellent rendition.

[@csipawpaw7921]

About the practice of marrying to resolve conflicts. When I was in Afghanistan, I was part of a small group negotiating the rental of property. During a break in the talks, a leader/chieftain sat down with me and told me about a deadly feud over property rights between two families of his people. He said he had heard of the Hatfield/McCoy feud in the U.S.A. and wanted to know how it was resolved. I said it was resolved by a crackdown by the local authorities. He said he solved his problem by having sixteen men and women from the two families marry!

[@ahmedshaharyarejaz9886]

In what province of Afghanistan was this?

[@michaelhearne3289]

Whatever works.

[@jeebusk]

maybe Trump will make Putin marry a Ukranian, somehow I doubt that would help but may be worth a try 😅

[@ShaheenJc]

The descendants of Sogdians are Tajiks who got Persianized in the 7th century. Within Tajiks, there are the Yaghnobi people who speak a language that is derived from the Sogdian language. Interesting video as always 👍👍

[@LeeCollins-g8b]

Yaghnobis are the unbroken descendants of Indo-European in Asia.

[@khanmunab7947]

what about bactrian people are the today's Afghan people because their language is closer to bacterian?

[@ShaheenJc]

@@khanmunab7947 Pashtuns are the descendants of Ghandarans and Asvakans while Tajiks of Afghanistan are descendants of the Bactrians. Again even today within the Tajiks of Afghanistan, there are around 20k people who speak a neo Bactrian language. Both Sogdians and Bactrians are Eastern Iranic people and were closely related.

[@khanmunab7947]

@ShaheenJc i don't agree with you on this because ghandaran are believe to be hindkowan. and ashvakan were iranic people. Tajiks lost their language and adopted Persian. while Afghan still speak Pashto. which derived from avesta and bactrian.

[@khanmunab7947]

@ShaheenJc ashvakans okey but ghandaran people are believe to be hindkowan people. bactrian and Sogdian same people with different languages? how ? you are just being biased toward Afghan because you wana prove a point that you are native to Afghanistan brother? bactria was pakhlo ? bukhdi. this sounds alot like a pushto. try harder brother

[@danwillett5657]

Silk Road exhibition at the British Museum has a really good section on Sogdiana, worth going to see

[@ChrisTheLoneWanderer]

Hey everyone! I'm the script-writer for the episode. If you have any questions, do let me know; the Sogdians have massive importance and cultural contributions to Eurasian history and there's much to tell!

[@AmaanJhetam]

Hey @ChrisTheLoneWanderer, just for my future enquiry and research could you list some of the sources which you extrapolated to get the information for which the team based this video off. Thanks👍

[@ChrisTheLoneWanderer]

@@AmaanJhetam There is a bibliography in the video description!

[@josephgarces1449]

Great job, but why is Alexander the great called a general? He was so much more.

[@QuasarSniffer]

You really added a lot of personality to this video, which I really enjoyed. From your word choice to your descriptions, it was very evocative. Excellent all around!

[@ChrisTheLoneWanderer]

​@@QuasarSniffer Thank you!!! The editors did a great job to polish it up, really!

[@MichaelSmith-ij2ut]

As an ancient Sogdian myself I really appreciate this unbiased account of my people

[@GrippyClips]

Ancient? how old are you?

[@exileeight8055]

michael smith the ancient sogdian XD

[@Cyber-s8k]

Aren't sogdian assimilated into invading turks and speak turkic language ?

[@Dan-sw8tg]

😂😂😂

[@AbdulHadi-lw2et]

😂😂😂

[@faramarzkarimi9845]

i'm absolutely grateful to see this document of ancient iranians of ancient turan. this region had an important role in our iranian identity

[@mistertok1]

Dope video! I would love to visit Samarkand! To think that by the time Timur came to power, the city had already been thriving for nearly a century. As a fan of history, thank you for this doc, loved learning a little about Sogdiana!

[@DevinRules]

It’s beautiful. I went to visit my bucharian wife’s hometown etc.

[@lambert801]

Oh Samarkand had had many golden ages prior to that. It was the capital of the Samanid Empire almost five centuries before Timur, and a very important and prosperous city at the center of the Silk Road for centuries before the advent of Islam.

[@Gen.berseker25]

More Historical and modern Asian ethnic groups: the Khitans, the Jurchens, the Tuvans, the Xiongnu (the ancestors of the Huns), the Saint Thomas Christians, the early Dravidians, the Sri Lankan Tamils, the Bengalis, the Balinese people, and the Dian people!

[@matthewryan7775]

But beware the Kara Khitai, they are without honor.

[@FLLCI]

Xiongnu is also the ancestors of Turks

[@Gen.berseker25]

@FLLCI like the Huns! We don't know about their linguist family for example they were probably Mongolian, Turkic, or Iranian (Scytho-Sarmatians)!

[@Gen.berseker25]

@JanosBanics that's has been debunked that Huns and Hungarians/Magyars are related because the Huns were probably of Turkic, Mongolian, or Scytho-Sarmatian origins

[@franciscojorgesousaandrade]

Thank you K & G for contributing with another channel addressing in a documentary about regions little studied in historiography and little debated in documentary channels, I am proud that you have helped me understand and abort in detail a region that is sometimes very forgotten as well as others and I say more, nothing in my history books teaches about these "forgotten" and "exotic" civilizations far from the world of the great civilizations that we study, how beautiful was the melting pot of religions that we found in Central Asia, and I will still continue to demand a video about Manichaeism and a new video about nomadic civilizations, the Uighurs.

[@matthewbryson6423]

Fascinating. Plus the artwork looks great

[@jonbaxter2254]

Love these videos on smaller and less known cultures, opens my eyes to how varied we all are

[@bohohohohoyt]

Alexander encouraged his troops to marry Persian and Sogdian women . Unions between Macedonians and natives , he said , " is essential to domination of the area.

[@cameronbrooks7224]

Love this video so much. What an incredible history this region of the world has.

[@teovu5557]

Fun fact the name sogdia means land of archers from the proto indo european word Skuda(shooter/archer) which is the same as the scythian self name skula. Sogdians come from the same east iranian people like scythians and saka but instead of nomadic they became sedentary. Modern tajiks are their descendants but they switched to a persian or west iranic language though some tajiks like the Sogds and wakhi and yagnobi people or the pamiri people still speak dialects of sogdians and saka languages.

[@faramarzkarimi9845]

you meant very interesting topic over sogdiana but scythians called themselves ,ashky dav, which means powerful peoples

[@teovu5557]

@faramarzkarimi9845 bullshit. Stop making up stuff.

[@theyellowjesters]

I absolutely love learning about the silk road. Thank you so much guys!

[@Mr.KaganbYaltrk]

K&G is the goat of history youtube

[@dnifty1]

One aspect of Sogdiana that is overlooked is the influence of the symbols like clubs and possibly aces on the early card games played in Central Asia that eventually made their way into Europe (Ganjifa, etc). Notably these symbols are found on the decoration of Horse barding in Sogdian artwork. Also note that Chess also derives from India, Persia and Asia as well which was known as Chaturanga or Shatranj as an early "game of thrones" related to warfare using cavalry and equestrian activities like polo.

[@explainingpolitics]

I’m actually really interested in this region so I appreciate all the videos you guys have made for this. Truly excellent work in an underserved topic. This deserves big views!

[@theawesomeman9821]

"The Travels of Marco Polo" is an interesting source on the Silk Road region. You should be able to get a copy at your local library or local college.

[@explainingpolitics]

@ thank you, this is really supportive advice!

[@CompellingHistory]

Its crazy to think about just how much of our history has been lost or forgotten! Great video! :)

[@oussahadd]

It’s always a treat to see a notification from this awesome channel, thanks!

[@alejandromartinezjaimes4278]

Amazing video, 2 things, Roxana was not a hostage at the Sogdian Rock, she was the daughter of the local warlord, Alexander would later fall in love with her and Spitamenes did not die in the siege of the Sogdian Rock

[@Suleimenoff]

It is the first time I've watched the video using quality headphones and I'd like to compliment the quality of soundtrack. Magnificent job 👍

[@diamondtiara84]

I had never even heard of Sogdiana before watching this video; thank you for teaching me something!🙂

[@kinscelestial782]

One thing to note: Sogdian alphabet were adopted by Ancient Uyghur, who passed it to Mongolian (still in active use today in China's Inner Mongolia) and Manchurian.

[@Numba003]

Honestly, it's a shame I've never really even heard of the Sogdians. They sound like a very fascinating people. Thank you for another excellent video! God be with you out there, everybody. ✝️ :)

[@obulqasimimin9324]

Sogdians are also one of the many ancestors of today’s Uyghurs. They settle down and thrived in many city states around the Tarim Basin, engaged in tradings, art, religious teachings, brought with them their culture, art, music to the Tarim Basin and finally assimilated into local populations which later formed the Uyghur identity today. This is why modern day Tajik, Uzbek and Uyghurs share so many cultural elements.

[@bigsarge2085]

Always learn something new!

[@hugobeaulieu-camus6782]

The silk road was surely one of the most interesting spots of history

[@red_nikolai]

Always appreciate when you guys introduce me to a people group I know little to nothing about.

[@buinghiathuan4595]

" Lush" and " Green " is the 2 words I didn't expect from this video. Today I found out 😂

[@Azizbek-gw1ll]

Really enjoyed it! Learning about encient and little-known cultures is always fascinating!!!

[@polleonardtaliesinhywel6986]

Love these videos! Would love to see more on the history of the peoples of the Tarim and Tibet as well (the Tibetan Empire is scarcely discussed in popular media). Would also love to see videos on Irish History-there is a treasure trove of material that you guys could use there too!

[@HistoryBeyondBordersTV]

This video is so fascinating! I’ve learned a lot about the Sogdians and their role in Silk Road trade. I’m especially impressed by their art and architecture.

[@barryboushehri1707]

Great informative video.

[@markp44288]

One of your best! Sogdian coins are incredible, kind of a new frontier for American collectors and they really do show all the different influences discussed in this video.

[@lambert801]

Don't they mostly follow the Sassanian style?

[@markp44288]

Yes. But also Byzantine. Also Chinese. Also Kushan. It’s incredible how many pieces appear.

[@Caiser-e-Rum]

Hello from Tashkent. Thank you for the video

[@VYBCTV]

Please do a video on one of the most under rated yet very influencial civilization of Central Asia called Bactria & Margiana Archaeological Complex. Which taught Sintastha Culture people from Russia and Kazhaksthan Steppes to do ﹰAgriculture'. In ancient period agriculture was learned by hunters and pastoralists to upgrade their lives or getting civilzed. BMAC was started by Anatolian Farmers, IranianNeolithic Farmers and Caucasus Hunters.

[@sarez0220]

This is awesome! Great content. Thank you!

[@EmpirealDemocracy]

I love that letter. She really tore into him.

[@gayprepperz6862]

Wow, I've been an enthusiastic student of history most of my life. I've never heard of Sogdiana. Thnaks!

[@Uzair_Of_Babylon465]

Great video keep it up you're doing amazing things 😁👍

[@alfrancisbuada2591]

Nice, these dudes you keep mentioning in your videos, finally get one. Good Job!

[@chaosspork]

This is amazing! I've always been interested in the Sogdians, so it's really cool to see a video about their lives and culture. Thank you!

[@MinesAGuinness]

Miwnay is my new favourite person in history! What a fantastic letter!

[@marcus4046]

Somewhere: Hey we got this new reli- Sogdiana: Another fine addition to my collection.

[@YoungBuff]

Thanks for such a good video! Keep up good work and get more vids about Central Asia!

[@gordonspears6320]

Fascinating story of an interesting region. The people of that region use the two-hump bactrian camel, not the one-hump dromedary as shown in your illustrations

[@SlayerRiley]

Awesome, been waiting for this forever! Thanks a lot!

[@thundershirt1]

This is the best internet: I would be considered above average in my history knowledge, and I have never heard of these peoples. Thanks!

[@brokenbridge6316]

I great look into a forgotten n unique people. Nice video.

[@bouldergage181]

Ooooo... this is my favorite region in the world to study! We in the United States are pitifully ignorant in regards to the fascinating history of this area. Thank you! Few things stir my imagination like the history of the Silk Road.

[@a.m2342]

اساسا سغدها هم از دسته های آریایی و ایرانی تبارن. ممنون از کلیپ خوبی که ساختید

[@tyranitararmaldo]

Right after I went to an exhibition on the Silk Road at the British Museum. Perfect timing!

[@Gen.berseker25]

@@tyranitararmaldo wow!

[@ZagZagSama]

Manichaeism was causing quite the headache for the ruling parties in those centuries. Thank You for bringin it to my attention. It was removed by force from everywhere as it was spreading like a wildfire. Would love to see an in depth video how it was banished from everywhere.

[@lutzcasper5285]

Kings and Generals, peak performance!

[@KingsandGenerals]

Thanks!

[@Vaultted-History]

Thank you for covering this! good job video of you...! :D

[@bek9864]

I am glad you made a video of my homeland Uzbekistan. The region has so rich history. It played very important role in Asian history. Your videos about Amir Timur were also hilarious.

[@TheLostChild25]

the video is not about ur homeland little buddy.

[@Totosamel242]

Согдийцы не имеют к вам никакого отношения. Согдийцы - это прямые предки Таджикского народа.

[@lambert801]

Lol. Uzbeks trying to claim Timur and Soghdians at the same time. Uzbeks commiting cultural genocide against Tajiks and claiming their scientists and ancient glory at the same time. No honor (or shame!) among thieves.

[@SJ-bl3uw]

@@Totosamel242 согдийцы это прямые предки ягнобцев, но никак не таджиков, согдийцы не имеют к вам никакого отношения. вы таджики потомки персидских переселенцев

[@espanadorada7962]

Uzbeks were one of the groups who came to Central Asia and killed the people who had made it rich.

[@ronjohnson6916]

Interesting stuff.

[@apollosdomain]

I was wondering, when you guy’s will start the WW2 Eastern Front Series. Do you have any exact date in mind, is it going to be after the completion of the North African series.

[@KingsandGenerals]

We do have a few ideas. Will discuss them with the members/patrons soon.

[@mahadlodhi]

Great video as always

[@-RONNIE]

Thanks for the video

[@joshuageorgopoulos1529]

"Greece's most ambitious general, Alexander the Great of the Macedonians" is the most perfectly poetic way to introduce that man. Good job Kings and Generals!

[@beachboy0505]

An excellent video 📹 Important history of Central Asia 🌏

[@evershumor1302]

What's a good and accessable book to get introduced to Sogdiana?

[@Lalita_Luna]

Fuck yes! Thank you so damn friggin much! I swear I have been so curious to this culture and so few is widely known about it

[@GeorgeLarryMIBU]

Thanks for this as an Uzbek

[@neutralfellow9736]

superb stuff sogdia severely underrepresented

[@robbabcock_]

Thanks for another terrific video on a topic rarely covered in Western media and educational material.

[@johnanita9251]

I'm in awe.. 😊

[@natheriver8910]

Wonderful 👏 🌹 👏 🌹

[@welcometonebalia]

Thank you.

[@raajsingh5112]

At 6:09, the Arabian peninsula is labelled as ‘Parthian Kingdom’ that doesn’t seem right or Is that another bit of interesting history you shed some light on?Love your work! Always been curious about Sogdiana!

[@lambert801]

That is definitely a mistake...

[@bebinca]

Are Roxana and roshanak the same person ?

[@KingsandGenerals]

yep

[@thalmoragent9344]

Ancient Silk Road civilizations are cool to learn about. I feel the Silk Road itself isn't as well known in a good bit of historical circles, or maybe it's just me.

[@kidzgehlhoff3965]

So very cool. This is what I refer to as dark history. The rarely spoken of and little know major influences of our mondern cultures. THANKS!

[@Mohojo]

@KingsandGenerals Would it be possible to put a year or even timeline at the top of the screen to let us know the year or approximate year? That would be awesome. Example being at the 8 - 9 minute mark, something like this on the maps would be very helpful

[@igor_kossov]

Last time I was this early, Flashman was still in Russian prison with Yakub Beg and Izzat Kutebar.

[@joewagner934]

"Sogdiana is often remembered uncharitably as just a place where one passed through" The New Jersey of the ancient world

[@theoldkrow]

Hey there. Amazing content as always. I'm from an Iranian Zardoshti community, would just like to suggest a minor correction moving forward. Mazdayasna is not Monotheistic in the conventional sense as you say here. While Ohrmazd is the primary deity of our faith, the Izads and the Fravashi of our ancestors are also Worshiped and invoked. Modern Academic Theisms do a poor job encompassing our Cosmology as the faith is fundamentally Dualistic in that Ahriman and Ohrmazd are uncreated eternal entities, and Polytheistic in our worship of and invocation of a number of Divine entities and Monotheistic only in the facet of our belief in a singular creator God who fostered all that is good. Monotheism is often implied upon us by orientalist academics but is fundamentally a flawed nominer for our practices. ❤️🙏 Much love for your content as always and please do continue to make content on Iranian peoples and History.

[@svenjenson]

Huge fan of the channel! I was wondering if you could tell me what editing software you use to make your videos? I like the combination of still images and animations and wanted to know the best tool to use this kind of imagery/animation for videos. If you're willing to share 🙏 Thank you.

[@KingsandGenerals]

After Effects

[@HomoIdioticus_13]

Since you made a video about the Sogdians, it seems necessary to make a video about the Tocharians, Tarim Basin Sakas and Bactrians.

[@badbuddha2359]

Would love to see more ancient asian and eurasian history. Any plans to do the warring states period of china? 👉👈

[@KingsandGenerals]

Yep yep

[@walterht8083]

I can't believe I typed Sogdiana on youtube and there is a video about it from yesterday (this one)

[@jorgedeanoperez2997]

Miwnay's husband has joined Ea-Nasir in the pantheon of reviled ancient merchants, lmao

[@roihanfadhil2879]

Ah, yes, the topic about Central Asia. I love it ❤❤.

[@faramarzkarimi9845]

beautiful tajikistan is today remembrance of ancient turan and ofcourse sogdiana

[@TheLostChild25]

Tajikistan + Samarqand + Bukhoro + Khorazm,to be precise

[@adsumabyss]

Dope King and Generals is the best bro like a young Jimmy Carter

[@jacobdarling1524]

At the height of the Silk Road the cities of Sogdia would have been such a fascinating and cosmopolitan place to live

[@MadMamluk88]

Sogdia & Tocharia are cultures/civilizations I wish we knew more about. I’d gladly trade half the information we know about the Roman Empire to get more info about these two.

[@dieuwer5370]

I suggest doing an episode on Thomyris, queen of the Massagetae, who allegedly killed Cyrus the Great in battle in 530 BC.

[@danielefabbro822]

"Forgotten"? Maybe by the mass. Historians, archeologists and the little community of history fans didn't forget Sogdiana. Some of these Central Asian cultures was actually way more interesting than the cultures of Far East Asia and Middle Orient. As Italian, I like them a lot, togheter with the Mongol culture with which we share similar historical and cultural forms of art.

[@Murmiasty]

Both Bukhara and Samarkand i knew, but cant recall name Sogdiana, good call! 😁👍