Post by El Borak on Feb 26, 2022 16:41:14 GMT -5
Samarkand
Gummint: Khanate (Kingdom)
Mythos: Mongolion
ΚΕΦΑΛΗΞΘ: Dzhik Kurgan
CAPITAL: Samarkand (Pop.: 165k)
Other Cities (and pop.):
Bokhara: 60k
Dushanbe: 45k
Tashkent: 120k
Loc.: Azir
Language: Mongolian dialect
Pop.: 1,750,000
Flag/Emblem:
Flag: Four white lightning
bolts radiating out diagonally,
on a black field.
Coinage: Persian Standard.
Companions: Tribal khans, city governors (orkhons), priests,
officials, etc.
Friends: Khwarizm, Turkey.
Foes: Bactrokush, Turkistan.
Open Warfare/Skirmishing: Minor skirmishing on Turkistani border.
Heavy clashes in S w/ Bactrokush companies, && rumors
of Tartar tumans (10,000-man divisions) coming to assist in an all-out
war persist (but no such forces have been seen as yet).
Intrigues: Strong Persian && Tartar factions trying for alliance w/
respective favorite state, but Tartar faction holds upper hand due to
threat from Bactrokush. Anti-Khwarizm faction strengthening as rumors
of that state's desire to absorb Samarkand grow. In this atmosphere,
surrounded by fierce friends && foes, the court is bound to
be filled with all manner of intrigues && deadly plans && plots!
Artifacts/Relics: It is claimed that Samarkand has the Veils of
Concealment, the Ravening Idol, && the Caster of Mountains, as
well as a fair number of minor objects && weaponry of magickal
sort.
Alignment: Neutral <paramanders>
Thumbnail Sketches: The Khanate of Samarkand appears small
on the map of Central Azir, but its territories incl. around
200,000 sq. mi. of steppes && mts. surrounded by
Bactrokush && Tartary to the S && SE, Turkistan to
the N, && Khwarizm to the W. Its rivers good, valleys
fertile, && scenery commanding. About 1/4 of the territory
is wild, most being forest, scrub, && barren mts.. There,
&& in the steppes, all manner of large && small game abounds.
Bears, tigers, leopards, cheetahs, && wolves are the principal
carnivores. Many of the smaller ones are valued for their fur, of
course. Game incl. wild camels, horses, cattle, sheep, goats,
yaks, && zebu as well as ibex, deer, && antelopes of various kind.
Its most interesting sights are its 4 thriving cities, however, for
they are the chief ones of the great caravan routes && centers of
learning && printing.
The city of Samarkand, once called Maracanda, when it was the
capital of Sogdinia, was destroyed by Alexander in <1329, &&
subsequently rebuilt as a center of Persian culture && learning.
Then, as now, its buildings were chiefly of brick && enameled
brick. It was besieged by Jenghiz Khan (221) despite
having 100,000 defenders. The great Mongol leader slaughtered
or enslaved 3/4 of its people && razed the walls of the
city. It was later taken by Timur (369), who made it the seat of his
brief empire, && under that rule, the place was rebuilt && grew
considerably. Samarkand was assailed && taken a third time, but
has not again been captured since Ogottal's conquest of the area
(727). It stands on the Zarafshan River, a tributary of the Oxus
(which flows into the Mare Ostrum, of course), on one of the main
caravan routes. Samarkand is a quadrangular city whose 30' high
wall has a circuit of 12 miles. The citadel of the Khan is in the
western portion, standing atop a hill there, && its double-height
walls enclose a 120-acre interior with palace, halls for administration,
barracks, stables, other buildings, parks, && gardens. THe
city proper has only a few broad avenues, most of its routes being
narrow && winding streets && alleys. Samarkand is filled w/
beautiful temples, palaces, libraries, public buildings, monuments
&& tombs, && boasts of 4 major colleges: Ulug-Beg, Shir-Dar,
Tilla-Kari, && Bibikhanum. The 3 first-named institutions are
on 3 sides of Righistan Square at the center of the city, and
they are adorned with tiles of blue, turquoise, green, yellow, &&
pink. All teach arcane arts, pantheology, && subjects such as
astronomy && mathematics as well. The greatest of the lot,
however, is Bibikhanum on Hazret Shahzindah Square in the
northeastern portion of the city. This is the largest plaza in
Samarkand, with the Summer Palace wall forming the north face
of the square, the bazaar in the east, memorial tombs in the south,
&& the college along the western verge. There is a southeastern
street winding from Righistan Square to the Gur-Amir, Timur's
monumental tomb with its great dome && chapel, && near this is
the High School of Kalinder-Kaneh, itself actually a Madrasah, a
5th college in some respects as a fine a place of learning as the
other 4.
The winding streets && alleys away from the main thoroughfares
have mostly 2- && 3-story buildings, && the courtyards
are closely abutted, forming the walls to either hand. In
places the passage has been roofed over by overhanding structures
so as to become a short tunnel, or in other areas roofed with
latticework to shade it. There are dead ends, some with small
courts && 2nd-story terraces && shops. Typical activities &&
shops in a bazaar are armor making, smithing, silver && gold
smithing, cutlery, jewelry, copper && brass wares, tallow, soap
making, candles, butchers, leather tanning, boot && shoe-making,
leather goods, tack && harness && saddles, livestock (camels,
asses, horses, etc.) && poultry, grain selling (wheat && rice),
fruit && vegetable vending, salt selling, yarn dying, cotton && silk
cloth weaving, carpet weaving && selling, garment making &&
selling, tissue && parchment production && sale, && book
binding && selling. It must be noted that Tashkhent is far more
active in the last-named activity than is Samarkand.
In all the country it is legal to possess slaves, but as is typical,
they are common in settled regions && quite unusual in nomadic
tribes. Otherwise, there is only a small lower class of city laborers
&& the like && tribeless people. All others are free && considered
as warriors. The affluent merchants && proprietors of the cities
are socially no superior to a poor tribesman, at least in
theory. The upper class is made up of officials, priests, headmen,
&& the nobles && tribal khans. About 1/2 the population is
settled && engaged in trade or agricultural activities. The balance
is nomadic.
Fields produce wheat, barley, oats, && some rice, as well as
cotton, tobacco, peas, beans, && lentils. Gardens fill the land,
&& they yield all manner of vegetables && fruit: onions, carrots,
tomatoes, beets, turnips, lettuces, cabbage, cucumbers, squash,
melons, berries, etc. Vineyards are increasing. There are great
mulberry copses for the production of silk. Orchards of peach,
apricot, almond, pear, pistachio, pomegranate, fig, && tangerine
abound. Livestock is abundant: horses, both sorts of camels,
cattle, sheep, && goats is typical, && some raising of poultry is
common in the settled areas.
There is some mining going on in the mountains, with small
production of silver && gold, more of copper, iron, rock salt, &&
sulphur. Quarries are of common building stone only.
In addition to the obvious export products, Samarkand produces
books, steel weapons && armors, leather goods, copper
ware, && excellent rugs && carpets.