Rise of the Gokturks IV: Persians, Byzantines and the Silk Road

After the Turks had annihilated the White Huns in 560, Istemi established a presence for the Gokturk Khaganate in Western Asia. He stationed Turkic armies along the Oxus river after arranging himself with the Sassanian King Khosrow in regard to the border between both nations. Simultaneously, the Turks embraced the trading skills of the Sogdian merchants and broadened both Sogdian and Turkic influence along the routes of the Silk Road. But Khosrow did not permit Sogdian trade in his territory and had a Sogdian envoy poisened. As a consequence Istemi sent the influential Sogdian politician Maniakh to Constantinople to establish trade and diplomatic relations between the Khaganate and the Byzantine Empire. He thus laid the foundation for the Turkic-Byzantine Alliance. But the Persians did not tolerate the actions of the Turks and tensions rose along the Oxus river. A war was imminent.
Support us to keep this project running! We're thankful for every donation.
PATREON: patreon.com/thekhansden
FACEBOOK: kingofturks
BLOG: kingofturks.com
WEBSITE: thekhansden.com
Historical sources:
De La Vaissière, Étienne (2005): Sogdian Traders. A History.
Dobrovits, Mihály (2011): The Altaic world through Byzantine eyes: Some remarks on the historical circumstances of Zemarchus’ journey to the Turks (AD 569-570), Acta Orientalia 64.
Gumilyov, Lev (2002): Eski Türkler.
Sinor, Denis (1990): The Cambridge History of Early Inner Asia.
Wood, Francis (2002). The Silk Road. Two Thousand Years in the Heart of Asia.
Music:
“Down to the Wire” - Anteros
“Relentless” - Aunuch
“Sound the Cornu” - Jonatan Järpehag
“Isolation” - Philipe Morris
“FF VII Anxious Heart (remake)” - Osirois Music
“Impervious” - Dorian Pinto
“Infiltration” - Clemens Ruh
“Borders” - Danijel Zambo
Footage:
“Samarkand” - Eugene Belsky
“Savaşın Efsaneleri - Türkiye Radyo ve Televisyon Kurumu
Videvo