Transoxiana under the Rule of Abbasid, Ghaznavid and Seljuk Empires: A Comparison of the Systems of Governance

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 University of Tehran, Department of International Relations

2 -

Abstract

Several empires which have ruled over Transoxiana since the advent of Islam include the empires built by the Arabs, the Turks, the Mughals, and the Russians. The Abbasid Empire lasted for several centuries, but in terms of actual running of the vast territories extending to eastern Iranian plateau, their rule ended after one and a half centuries. Gradually, independent rulers rose from the easternmost portion of the territories of the Abbasid Empire. The role of the Caliphate was then to lend legitimacy to the various local governments, many of which became powerful empires themselves. Our main objective here is to carefully compare the two types of bureaucracies (divans) of the kingdoms ruled by the Abbasids, Ghaznavids and Seljuks. The authors examine the main features of these systems of governance, and their similarities and differences regarding their ascendancy, degree of sophistication, centralization, efficiency, and military power.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Iran and Central Eurasia Studies
Volume 1, Issue 1
May 2018
Pages 1-14

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