Archaeological Site of Otrar

The Otrar Massacre and the Sources

Primary sources are what historians use for deciphering the past, and are important to consider when analyzing any historical topic. Events may change between sources, depending on the writers, why they were writing and for whom they were writing. For historians of the Mongol Empire, there are a number of sources (of varying quality) from Arab and Persian writers in the aftermath of the Mongol advance. In this video, we have a look at some of these sources - ibn al-Athir, al-Nasawi, Juzjani and 'Ata-Malik Juvaini- and what they have to say on one of the most important events in the history of the Mongol Conquests: the massacre at Otrar in 1218, discussed in detail in a previous video.

My video on the Otrar Massacre:

PRIMARY SOURCES:

‘Ala-ad-Din ‘Ata-Malik Juvaini, The History of the World-Conqueror. Vol. I. Translated by John Andrew Boyle. Harvard: Harvard University Press, 1958.

de Rachewiltz, Igor. The Secret History of the Mongols: A Mongolian Epic Chronicle of the Thirteenth Century. Translated by Igor de Rachewiltz. Edited by John C. Street. University of Wisconsin: Madison, 2015.


“Temujin and the Rise of the Mongol Empire,” in Islamic Central Asia: An Anthology of Historical Sources, edited by Scott C. Levi, Ron Sela, 115-137. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2009. Contains excerpts from a few primary sources of the period, such as the Secret History of the Mongols. Includes section of Nasawi discussing the Otrar Massacre.

SECONDARY SOURCES:

Barthold, W. Turkestan Down to the Mongol Invasion. Translated by H.A.R. Gibb. London: Oxford University Press, 1928.

Jackson, Peter. The Mongols and the Islamic World: From Conquest to Conversion. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2017. Has a chapter which discusses all of these sources, and more, in some detail.

Museums' secrets #3 (06.11.2016) - Kazakh TV

In today's program:
History Of Ancient Otrar;
Beliefs Of Archaeologists.

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Отрар в формате времени К 40 летию Южно казахстанской археологической экспедиции Видеофильм

The Visual Effects of OTRAR

The VFX Breakdown of scenes from OTRAR. We completed the production in a period within 6 weeks with an amount of 32 worth of vfx shots. Most VFX were done in 2D; rotoscoping, background replacements, matte painting & compositing.

VFX Short film:
Behind the Scenes:

VFX Team:
Safuan Shahril
Shah Qayyum
Muhammad Iliyas
Abdul Harith
Reza Syazwan

Produced for Visual Effects & Compositing [MAX 2033]

Produced at Faculty of Creative Multimedia, Multimedia University © 2015

...

NEW EXHIBITION FEATURES ANCIENT OTYRAR ARTIFACTS

An unusual exhibition has been opened at the military-historical museum of the Kazakh armed forces.

Archeology. Mystery of history #4 (04.08.2016) - Kazakh TV - eng

The topic of the program is Otyrar.

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Lost Enlightenment: Central Asia's Golden Age from the Arab Conquest to Tamerlane

Fred Starr discusses his book on central Asia's golden age, from the Arab conquest to Tamerlane.

For transcript and more information, visit

Turkestan - Kazakhstan

Turkestan or Turkistan, in the south of Kazakhstan is little of what it was. It is an Islamic pilgrimage city where Muslims come to visit the mausoleum of Khoja Akhmet. Around it there are several archaeology sites and the remains of 3 gates of the ancient city. Nearby the city, there are other interesting sites as the old city of Otrartobe and the Arystan Bab Mausoleum.

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Fly above Otrar

Полет над городищем Отрар (3D)
3D Otrar Archaeology

Analysis & Curation of American Travelers' Visual Documents on Central Asian Nomadic Culture

Saule Satayeva discussed her archival research related to American travelers who illuminated Kazakh Nomadic culture through their visual documents from 1876-1937.

Speaker Biography: Saule Satayeva is vice director of the Kazakh Central State Archive of Cinema/Photo Documents.

For transcript and more information, visit

Turkistan 4K

Turkistan (city)

Place in Turkistan Region, Kazakhstan

Turkistan (Kazakh: Түркістан, Túrkistan, تٷركئستان), formerly known as Turkestan (Russian: Туркестан; Uzbek: Turkiston, Туркистон, توركىستان), is a city and the administrative center of Turkistan Region of Kazakhstan, near the Syr Darya river. It is situated 160 km (100 mi) north-west of Shymkent on the Trans-Aral Railway between Kyzylorda to the north and Tashkent to the south. Its population has increased within ten years from 102,505 (1999 Census results) to 142,899 (2009 Census results). Turkestan's most prominent historical and cultural asset is the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasavi, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

This article is about the city in Kazakhstan. For the general region, see Turkestan.

Quick facts: Country, Region …

Turkistan


Түркістан
Túrkistan



Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasavi





Turkistan

Location in Kazakhstan

Coordinates: 43°17′N 68°16′ECountry KazakhstanRegionTurkistan RegionGovernment

 • Akim (mayor)Mussayev Tazhibek KalmanulyPopulation

 (2009)

 • City227,098 • Urban

142,899

Close

History

Turkistan is one of Kazakhstan's historic cities with an archaeological record dating back to the 4th century.
It became a commercial centre after the final demise of Otrar, the medieval city whose ruins lie near the Syr Darya to the southeast. Throughout most of the medieval and early-modern period it was known as Iasy or Shavgar and after the 16th-17th centuries as Turkistan or Hazrat, both of which names derive from the title 'Hazrat-i Turkistan', which literally means the Saint (or Blessed One) of Turkistan and refers to Khoja Akhmet Yassawi, the Sufi Sheikh of Turkistan, who lived here during the 11th century CE and is buried in the town.
Because of his influence and in his memory the city became an important centre of spirituality and Islamic learning for the peoples of the Kazakh steppes. In the 1390s Timur (Tamerlane) erected a magnificent domed Mazar or tomb over his grave, which remains the most significant architectural monument in the Republic of Kazakhstan. It was pictured on the back of the banknotes of the national currency until 2006.
Other important historical sites in the city include a medieval bath-house and four other mausoleums, one dedicated to Timur's granddaughter and three to Kazakh khans (rulers).
Before the Russians came in the 19th century, Turkistan lay on the frontier of the settled Perso-Islamic oasis culture of Transoxiana to the south, and the world of the Kazakh steppe to the north. In the 16th to 18th centuries Turkestan became the capital of the Kazakh Khanate. It became the political center of the Kazakh steppe, but after advancing conquest expeditions of the Russian Empire and the associated weakening of the Kazakh Khanate benefited small southern states that he was captured. Finally, this city was conquered in Kokand khanate by Russian General Veryovkin in 1864. When Turkistan fell to the Russian Empire it was incorporated into the Syr-Darya Oblast of the Governor-Generalship of Russian Turkestan. When the Tsarist regime fell in 1917-18 it was briefly part of the Turkestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic before being returned Kazakhs as a city of Kazakh SSR in 1924.
On 19 June 2018 Shymkent was taken out of South Kazakhstan Region and subordinated directly to the government of Kazakhstan. The administrative centre of the region moved to Turkistan and the region was renamed Turkistan Region.

Pilgrimage

Landsat satellite photo of Turkestan
The city attracts thousands of pilgrims. According to a regional tradition, three pilgrimages to Turkistan are equivalent to one hajj to Mecca (such local piety is known also in relation to other religious monuments in the Muslim world). The Saint was held in such reverence that the city was known as the Second Mecca of the East, a vision which has helped shape the spiritual identity of Muslims in Kazakhstan.

Demographics

Modern-day Turkistan has a population of 85,600 (1999 census). The population rose by 10% from 1989 to 99, making it the second fastest-growing town in Kazakhstan, after the new capital Nur-Sultan.
The ethnic composition of the city:

Kazakhs – 52,5%

Uzbeks – 45,2%

Other ethnic groups – 2,3%

The ethnic composition of the city according to the 1897 census:

total – 11,253

Uzbeks – 8,940 (79.4%)

Kazakhs – 1,415 (12.5%)

Tatars – 506 (4.4%)

Russians – 312 (2.7%)

At the same time the ethnic composition of the Chimkent uyezd (Chimkent district) which included the city of Turkestan according to the 1897 census:

total – 285,059

Kazakhs – 20,709 (7,2%)

Sart (non-nomadic Iranic, Turkic, or Mongolic people)– 32 043 (11.2%)

Uzbeks – 224,704 (78.8%)

Archeology. Mystery of history (14.07.2016) - Kazakh TV - kz

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Zhelbuaz - SOUNDS OF THE NOMADS

Zhelbuaz refers to wind instruments. This instrument has a long history and is the part of Kazakh culture, its origin goes deep in antiquity, but it still remains unknown tomany. It looks similar to a leather wineskin. Similar wind instruments can also be found in other nations too.

This instrument has been found during archaeological excavations, and it is made of goatskin. Other nations make it out of the bladder, as well as from the skins of other animals. The fact that this instrument is the Kazakh national wind instrument is proven by the fact that they used to make it from goatskin. The neck of the zhelbuaz is closed with a special occlusion. In order for the instrument to be worn around the neck, a strong leather cord is attached to it. In recent times this instrument has been rarely used for the concerts of Kazakh national orchestras and folk ensembles.

The Museum of National Instruments of Ykylas Dukenov takes care of ancient zhelbuaz. A stable temperature is permanently maintained here. They use special gauze to dust the instrument in order to protect it from mold and insects. The famous composer Nurgisa Tlendiev first used the zhelbuaz in concerts of the Otrar sazy Orchestra.

History of Mongolia | Wikipedia audio article

This is an audio version of the Wikipedia Article:
History of Mongolia

Listening is a more natural way of learning, when compared to reading. Written language only began at around 3200 BC, but spoken language has existed long ago.

Learning by listening is a great way to:
- increases imagination and understanding
- improves your listening skills
- improves your own spoken accent
- learn while on the move
- reduce eye strain

Now learn the vast amount of general knowledge available on Wikipedia through audio (audio article). You could even learn subconsciously by playing the audio while you are sleeping! If you are planning to listen a lot, you could try using a bone conduction headphone, or a standard speaker instead of an earphone.

You can find other Wikipedia audio articles too at:


You can upload your own Wikipedia articles through:




The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
- Socrates



SUMMARY
=======
Various nomadic empires, including the Xiongnu (3rd century BCE to 1st century CE), the Xianbei state (c. 93 to 234 CE), the Rouran Khaganate (330-555), the Turkic Khaganate (552-744) and others, ruled the area of present-day Mongolia. The Khitan people, who used a para-Mongolic language,
founded a state known as the Liao dynasty (907-1125) in Central Asia and ruled Mongolia and portions of the present-day Russian Far East, northern Korea, and North China.
In 1206 Genghis Khan was able to unite and conquer the Mongols, forging them into a fighting force which went on to establish the largest contiguous empire in world history, the Mongol Empire (1206-1368). Buddhism in Mongolia began with the Yuan emperors' conversion to Tibetan Buddhism.
After the collapse of the Mongol-led China-based Yuan dynasty in 1368, the Mongols returned to their earlier patterns of internal strife. The Mongols also returned to their old shamanist ways after the collapse of their empire and only in the 16th and 17th centuries did Buddhism reemerge.
At the end of the 17th century, present-day Mongolia became part of the area ruled by the Manchu-led Qing dynasty. During the collapse of the Qing in 1911, Mongolia declared independence but had to struggle until 1921 to firmly establish de facto independence and until 1945 to gain international recognition. As a consequence, Mongolia came under strong Soviet influence: in 1924 the Mongolian People's Republic was declared, and Mongolian politics began to follow the same patterns as Soviet politics of the time. After the revolutions of 1989, the Mongolian Revolution of 1990 led to a multi-party system, a new constitution in 1992, and a transition to a market economy.

A Closer Look To The History Of Transoxiana

transoxiana (also spelled Transoxania), known in Arabic and Persian sources as Mawarannahr (Arabic: ماوراء النهر‎ mā warāʔa an-nahr what (is) beyond the (Oxus) river), is the ancient name used for the portion of Central Asia corresponding approximately with modern-day Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, southern Kyrgyzstan and southwest Kazakhstan. Geographically, it is the region between the Amu Darya (Ancient Greek: Ώξος Ōxos) and Syr Darya rivers. The area had been known to the Romans as Transoxania (Land beyond the Oxus), to the Arabs as Mawarannahr (Land Beyond the River), and to the Iranians as Turan, a term used in the Persian national epic Shahnameh.

The region was one of the satrapies of the Achaemenid dynasty of Persia under the name Sogdiana.
History

The name Transoxiana stuck in Western consciousness because of the exploits of Alexander the Great, who extended Greek culture into the region with his conquests of the 4th century BC; Transoxiana was the most north-eastern point of the Hellenistic culture until the Arabic invasion. During the Sassanid Empire, it was often called Sogdiana, a provincial name taken from the Achaemenid Empire, and used to distinguish it from nearby Bactria.

The Chinese explorer Zhang Qian, who visited the neighbouring countries of Bactria and Parthia along with Transoxiana in 126 BC, made the first known Chinese report on this region. Zhang Qian clearly identifies Parthia as an advanced urban civilisation that farmed grain and grapes, made silver coins and leather goods. It was ruled successively by Seleucids, Greco-Bactrian Kingdom, Parthian Empire and Kushan Empire before Sassanid rule.

In Sassanid times, the region became a major cultural and scientific centre due to effective royal authority and the wealth derived from the Northern Silk Road. Sassanid rule was interrupted by the Hephthalite invasion at the end of the 5th century and didn't return to the Sassanids until 565. Many Persian nobles and landlords escaped to this region after the Muslim invasion. Before the Muslim invasion it was also ruled by Gokturks. Following the Arab conquest, the area became known as Ma wara'un-Nahr (Arabic, what is beyond the river).

Transoxiana's major cities and cultural centres are Samarkand and Bukhara. Both are in the southern portion of Transoxiana, (though still to the north of the Amu Darya itself, on the river Zeravshan), and the majority of the region was dry but fertile plains. Both cities remained centres of Persian culture and civilisation after the Islamic conquest of Iran, and played a crucial role in the revival of Persian culture with establishment of the Samanid dynasty.

Part of this region was conquered by Qutayba ibn Muslim between 706 and 715 and loosely held by the Umayyads from 715 to 738. The conquest was consolidated by Nasr ibn Sayyar between 738 and 740, and continued under the control of the Umayyads until 750, when it was replaced by the Abbasids. The Tang Dynasty also controlled the eastern part of the region until about the same time, when a civil war occurred.

Genghis Khan invaded Transoxiana in 1219 during his conquest of Khwarezm. Before his death in 1227, he assigned the lands of Western Central Asia to his second son Chagatai, and this region became known as the Chagatai Khanate. In 1369, Timur, of the Barlas tribe, became the effective ruler and made Samarkand the capital of his future empire. Transoxiana was known to be flourishing in the mid-14th century.

History of Mongolia | Wikipedia audio article

This is an audio version of the Wikipedia Article:
History of Mongolia

Listening is a more natural way of learning, when compared to reading. Written language only began at around 3200 BC, but spoken language has existed long ago.

Learning by listening is a great way to:
- increases imagination and understanding
- improves your listening skills
- improves your own spoken accent
- learn while on the move
- reduce eye strain

Now learn the vast amount of general knowledge available on Wikipedia through audio (audio article). You could even learn subconsciously by playing the audio while you are sleeping! If you are planning to listen a lot, you could try using a bone conduction headphone, or a standard speaker instead of an earphone.

You can find other Wikipedia audio articles too at:


You can upload your own Wikipedia articles through:




The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
- Socrates



SUMMARY
=======
Various nomadic empires, including the Xiongnu (3rd century BCE to 1st century CE), the Xianbei state (c. 93 to 234 CE), the Rouran Khaganate (330-555), the Turkic Khaganate (552-744) and others, ruled the area of present-day Mongolia. The Khitan people, who used a para-Mongolic language,
founded a state known as the Liao dynasty (907-1125) in Central Asia and ruled Mongolia and portions of the present-day Russian Far East, northern Korea, and North China.
In 1206 Genghis Khan was able to unite and conquer the Mongols, forging them into a fighting force which went on to establish the largest contiguous empire in world history, the Mongol Empire (1206-1368). Buddhism in Mongolia began with the Yuan emperors' conversion to Tibetan Buddhism.
After the collapse of the Mongol-led China-based Yuan dynasty in 1368, the Mongols returned to their earlier patterns of internal strife. The Mongols also returned to their old shamanist ways after the collapse of their empire and only in the 16th and 17th centuries did Buddhism reemerge.
At the end of the 17th century, present-day Mongolia became part of the area ruled by the Manchu-led Qing dynasty. During the collapse of the Qing in 1911, Mongolia declared independence but had to struggle until 1921 to firmly establish de facto independence and until 1945 to gain international recognition. As a consequence, Mongolia came under strong Soviet influence: in 1924 the Mongolian People's Republic was declared, and Mongolian politics began to follow the same patterns as Soviet politics of the time. After the revolutions of 1989, the Mongolian Revolution of 1990 led to a multi-party system, a new constitution in 1992, and a transition to a market economy.

Golden Horde | Wikipedia audio article

This is an audio version of the Wikipedia Article:
Golden Horde

Listening is a more natural way of learning, when compared to reading. Written language only began at around 3200 BC, but spoken language has existed long ago.

Learning by listening is a great way to:
- increases imagination and understanding
- improves your listening skills
- improves your own spoken accent
- learn while on the move
- reduce eye strain

Now learn the vast amount of general knowledge available on Wikipedia through audio (audio article). You could even learn subconsciously by playing the audio while you are sleeping! If you are planning to listen a lot, you could try using a bone conduction headphone, or a standard speaker instead of an earphone.

You can find other Wikipedia audio articles too at:


You can upload your own Wikipedia articles through:




The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
- Socrates



SUMMARY
=======
The Golden Horde (Mongolian: Алтан Орд, Altan Ord; Russian: Золотая Орда, Zolotaya Orda; Tatar: Алтын Урда, Altın Urda) was originally a Mongol and later Turkicized khanate established in the 13th century and originating as the northwestern sector of the Mongol Empire. With the fragmentation of the Mongol Empire after 1259 it became a functionally separate khanate. It is also known as the Kipchak Khanate or as the Ulus of Jochi.After the death of Batu Khan (the founder of the Golden Horde) in 1255, his dynasty flourished for a full century, until 1359, though the intrigues of Nogai did instigate a partial civil war in the late 1290s. The Horde's military power peaked during the reign of Uzbeg (1312–1341), who adopted Islam. The territory of the Golden Horde at its peak included most of Eastern Europe from the Urals to the Danube River, and extended east deep into Siberia. In the south, the Golden Horde's lands bordered on the Black Sea, the Caucasus Mountains, and the territories of the Mongol dynasty known as the Ilkhanate.The khanate experienced violent internal political disorder beginning in 1359, before it briefly reunited (1381–1395) under Tokhtamysh. However, soon after the 1396 invasion of Timur, the founder of the Timurid Empire, the Golden Horde broke into smaller Tatar khanates which declined steadily in power. At the start of the 15th century, the Horde began to fall apart. By 1466, it was being referred to simply as the Great Horde. Within its territories there emerged numerous predominantly Turkic-speaking khanates. These internal struggles allowed the northern vassal state of Muscovy to rid itself of the Tatar Yoke at the Great stand on the Ugra river in 1480. The Crimean Khanate and the Kazakh Khanate, the last remnants of the Golden Horde, survived until 1783 and 1847 respectively.

Torysh

Once upon a time hordes of enemies invaded the Mangystau land, covering the ground like grasshoppers. Locals raised their arms to the heavens to pray for help and they were heard. The heavens opened up by heavy volcanic flows, with thunder and lightning. In a flash all the enemies were entombed in stone, and endless fields of these unusual rock formations – globular concretions – appeared in Mangystau.

These mysterious concretions in Torysh valley of Mangystau in Western Kazakhstan are 120-180 million years old - dating to the Mesozoic/Lower Cretaceous. Their size reaches 4 m in diameter. The concretions occur in sand layers of the valleys between Karatau range and spurs of the North and South Aktau ranges. The rounded nodules form in loose sedimentary rock containing liquid filler under the influence of electro-magnetic fields, perhaps rolling down the sides of oceans. Geologists do not have a single opinion about the processes that created these mysterious formations. Concretion outcrops stretch from both sides of the Karatau fold over hundreds of kilometers.

At the bottom of the valley are several paleolithic havens are found. There are rock carvings dating perhaps to the 10th to 2nd century BCE, created by prehistoric nomads.