| Ancient Chorasmia |  |
|||
| Chorasmia
arose into history out of a nomadic Bronze Age past when it became part
of the 16th satrapy of the Achaemenid Persian empire in the late 6th
century B.C. Cyrus the Great fell in battle against the nomadic
Massagetae in about 530 B.C. and Darius I consolidated the empire by
the end of the century, at which time Chorasmia appears in his taxation
list along with the Parthians, Sogdians and Arians. Archaeological
evidence shows an abrupt change in material culture at this time. The
former semi-nomadic Andronovo culture was replaced by new 'urban'
architecture, sophisticated irrigation schemes and pottery which has
parallels in numerous southern Central Asian sites of the 7th/6th
centuries B.C.
The first proto-historical stage is called the 'Archaic' period (7th/6th - 5th/4th centuries B.C.). Two major sites of this period have been found in northern Turkmenistan, Kiuzeli-g'ir and Kalal'i-gir 1. Kalal'i-gir 1 had carved stone capitals and architecture which reflects Persian influence. The current scholarly opinion is that by about the 5th century B.C. Persian control had lapsed in this remote province and the first part of the next period, the 'Antique' period (4th century B.C. - 1st century A.D.), was one of an independent Chorasmian state. Many fortresses, farmsteads, border towns and at least two major 'urban' sites relate to the period from the 4th century B.C. to the 1st century A.D. These include the sites of Kazakl'i-yatkan and Tashk'irman-tepe. By the 2nd century A.D, Chorasmia had fallen under the influence, if not the direct rule, of the Kushan empire. The heartland of the empire lay in north-west India, but the spread of their control and influence made them masters of one quarter of the known world, alongside the Romans, the Parthians and the Han Chinese. The magnificent Chorasmian site of Toprak-kala reflects the splendour of these times. Its architecture, sculpture and wall paintings are totally different from anything which preceded them. The 'Kushan' period in Chorasmia lasted up until the 4th century A.D. when the Huns began to move into Central Asia. |
||||