The Central Asian Elements in the Accounts of Sallam’s Journey (9th – 16th Centuries)
https://doi.org/10.31162/2618-9569-2023-16-1-43-61
Abstract
This article examines the story of the itinerary of Abbasid Caliph al-Wathiq’s envoy accomplishing the mission to visit the defensive fortifications established by Alexander Macedonian on the border with peoples “Yajuj and Majuj”. Its topicality consists in the necessity to understand adequately the history of intercultural interactions among the residents of the Eurasia Steppe. This article aims to confirm that the accounts on the traveler’s experience reflex geographical objects of Central Asia and certain custom of the local ethnic groups. Variations of the descriptions on Sallam’s journey in Arabic geographical literature from 9th to 16th centuries, from one hand, and fragments from both Arabic geographic tradition and Chinese historical and geographical works which facilitate the interpretation of the narration of the landscape, settlements and the antique custom within the peoples of Central Asia, from the other hand, are studied. Comparative and chronological approaches are applied to date the episodes of the travel, while historical-ethnological method is employed to identify realistic components in the mythological extract from Sallam’s journey. It is concluded that the story of the travel had reflected the effect of wind erosion on the Central Asian desert as well as history of conquest of the transport artery between Pamir and the Heartland of China by the Tibetans, and moreover, the typical ritual gestures which sometimes permitted the Sogidans to get rid of a complicated political dilemma.
About the Author
M. Yan
Lomonosov Moscow State University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Yan Minjia, Postgraduate Student at the Center of Caucasus and Central Asia of the Institute of Asian and African Studies
Moscow
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For citations:
Yan M. The Central Asian Elements in the Accounts of Sallam’s Journey (9th – 16th Centuries). Minbar. Islamic Studies. 2023;16(1):43-61. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.31162/2618-9569-2023-16-1-43-61
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