The Sogdians

The distinct countries and borders of today were not always in existence. Along the Silk Road people were divided more by their language, city, and region than any actual physical dividers. This meant that people of the same classification could actually be quite different. Sogdiana's cities developed independent cultures, and had different leaders (Marshak, 2002). They shared regional similarities however, being of the same people, such as their placing of merchants in the social hierarchy (Marshak, 2002). Merchants were classed by each individual merchants worth, and were able to rival nobility in their wealth and influence (Marshak, 2002). This was probably due to their cultures prominence along the Silk Road, a major trade route upon which Sogdian was the major language and as you can see from the map below, Sogdiana's capital Samarkand was located on the Silk Road, which put them at a central location along the trade route to both of its end points (Sims-Williams, 2004).

Sogdiana's central location along the Silk Road meant they did not have to travel as far to either side of the route, and could return to their country without leaving the Silk Road. They were also subject to many of the other trader’s ideas and traditions which passed through their capital or were brought back by the merchants (Lerner, 2002). This influx of foreigners and their culture further diversified the Sogdian people, some of which converted to Buddhism although most continued to practice Zoroastrianism (Lerner, 2002). The Sogdian merchants also became well learned as it was advantageous to speak multiple languages when encountering possible trade partners, as to speak their language probably eased their introduction and allowed trading to be done even with those who did not speak the Silk Road's main language (Lerner, 2002). This blurring of the borders between peoples is reminiscent of the highly varied accents of the English people, who speak the same language but sound incredibly different depending on what part of England each individual was raised. The cities in this case were more influential on their sound although they did share a land, ruler, and language. The Sogdians even took on Chinese names when in living in Sogdian communities within China, much the same as the Chinese of today do in Canada, although today the first name is the one changed rather than the surname (Luo, 2002).

References

Lerner, Judith A. “The Merchant Empire of the Sogdians.” In Monks and Merchants: Silk Road Treasures from Northwest China Gansu and Ningxia, 4th -7th Cent, 221-227. Ed. by A.L. Juliano and J. Lerner. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., with The Asia Society, 2002.

Luo, Feng. “Sogdians in Northwest China.” In Monks and Merchants: Silk Road Treasures from Northwest China Gansu and Ningxia, 4th -7th Cent, 239-245. Ed. by A.L. Juliano and J. Lerner. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., with The Asia Society, 2002.

Marshak, Boris I. “The Sogdians in their Homeland.” In Monks and Merchants: Silk Road Treasures from Northwest China Gansu and Ningxia, 4th -7th Cent, 231-237. Ed. by A.L. Juliano and J. Lerner. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., with The Asia Society, 2002.

Sims-Williams, Nicholas. (2004). "The Sogdian Ancient Letters." Retrieved from: http://depts.washington.edu/silkroad/texts/sogdlet.html

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