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'The lands of the Eastern Caliphate Mesopotamia, Persia, and Central Asia from the Moslem conquest to the time of Timur' [‎465] (512/586)

The record is made up of 1 volume (536 pages). It was created in 1905. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: Printed Collections.

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XXXIIl]
SUGHD.
465
The temporary ruin of Samarkand, as of all Transoxiana, was
due to the Mongols, who almost destroyed the city in 616 (1219):
so that, when Ibn Batlitah visited it in the following century, he
describes it as without walls or gates, with but a few inhabited
houses standing in a maze of ruins. The river here (or possibly
he refers to the canal from the Sughd river) he names the Nahr-al-
Kassarin, 'the Fullers' River,' and on this stood many water-
wheels. The glory of Samarkand, however, revived shortly after
this, at the close of the 8th (14th) century, when Timur made it
his capital, rebuilding the town, and founding the great mosques
and caravanserais which were seen here by the Spanish ambassa
dor Clavijo in 808 (1405), some of which remain to the present
day. The Friday Mosque in particular, according to 'Alt of Yazd,
Timlir founded on his return from the conquest of India, and its
splendour was due to the treasures brought back from this
campaign. Clavijo describes Samarkand at this time as sur
rounded by an earthen wall; and he states that the city was a
little larger than Seville in his native country
The districts round Samarkand, lying principally to the east
ward and south, but also to the north of the Sughd river, were all
extremely fertile. Nine leagues to the east of Samarkand, and
likewise on the south side of the river, was the town of Banjikath
(existing at the present day as Penjakant), surrounded by fertile
orchards, producing more especially almonds and nuts, with corn
lands stretching along its canals. Between this and Samarkand
was the great village of Waraghsar, with its district, where most of
the canals watering the lands round Samarkand had their origin
from the river. On the south side of the capital was the Maymurgh
district, with the village of Rivdad, one league from Samarkand,
and contiguous was the Sanjafaghan district. None of the lands
round Samarkand surpassed Maymurgh in fertility, it was famous
for its splendid trees, and throughout its length and breadth were
innumerable villages. To the south of this lay the hill country
called the Jibal-as-Savdar, the healthiest region of the province.
Here, according to Ibn Hawkal, at a place called Wazkard was
a church belonging to the Christians—probably Nestorians—
1 1st. 316—318. I. H. 365—368. Muk. 278, 279. Kaz. ii. 359. Yak.
in. 134. I. B. iii. 52. A. Y. ii. 195. Clavijo, Embassy, 169.
L e S. 30

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The lands of the Eastern Caliphate Mesopotamia, Persia, and Central Asia from the Moslem conquest to the time of Timur

Publication Details: Cambridge : University Press, 1905.

Notes: Cambridge Geographical Series.

Physical Description: xvii, 536 p., 10 maps (folded).

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1 volume (536 pages)
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Dimensions: 195mm x 135mm

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English in Latin script
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'The lands of the Eastern Caliphate Mesopotamia, Persia, and Central Asia from the Moslem conquest to the time of Timur' [‎465] (512/586), British Library: Printed Collections, W15/8578, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023695622.0x000071> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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