|
Durante il periodo achemenide (550-330 a.C.), i sogdiani vissero come popolazione [[Nomadismo|nomade]] simile ai vicini [[Yuezhi]], i quali parlavano la [[lingua battriana]], una [[Lingue indoiraniche|lingua indoiranica]] strettamente imparentata con il sogdiano,<ref>{{cita libro | autore=Valerie Hansen | anno=2012 | titolo=The Silk Road: A New History | editore=Oxford University Press | p=72 | isbn=978-0-19-993921-3}}</ref> e già praticavano il commercio via terra. Alcuni di loro, inoltre, si erano progressivamente stabiliti praticando l'agricoltura.<ref name="liu 2010 p67">{{cita libro | autore=Xinru Liu | anno=2010 | titolo=The Silk Road in World History | città=Oxford e New York | editore=Oxford University Press | p=67}}</ref> Analogamente agli Yuezhi, che inviavano doni tributari di [[giada]] agli [[Imperatore della Cina|imperatori cinesi]], i sogdiani sono ricordati nei registri persiani per aver offerto preziosi regali di [[lapislazzuli]] e [[carniola]] al [[Re dei re|re]] persiano [[Dario I di Persia|Dario I]].<ref name="liu 2010 p67"/> Sebbene talvolta indipendenti e al di fuori dei confini di grandi imperi, i sogdiani non formarono mai un grande impero autonomo, a differenza degli Yuezhi, che stabilirono l'[[Impero Kushan]] (30-375 d.C.) in Asia centrale e [[Asia meridionale|meridionale]].<ref name="liu 2010 p67"/>
=== HellenisticPeriodo periodellenistico (327–145327-145 BCa.C.)===
{{Immagine multipla
{{further|Wars of Alexander the Great|Chronology of the expedition of Alexander the Great into Asia|Hellenistic civilization}}
| larghezza totale = 250
{{multiple image| align = right | direction = vertical | header = | header_align = left/right/center | footer = '''Top''': painted clay and [[alabaster]] head of a [[Mobad|Zoroastrian priest]] wearing a distinctive [[Bactria]]n-style headdress, [[Takhti-Sangin]], Tajikistan, 3rd–2nd century BC.<br>'''Bottom''': a [[barbaric]] copy of a coin of the [[Greco-Bactrian]] king [[Euthydemus I]], from the region of Sogdiana; the legend on [[Obverse and reverse|the reverse]] is in [[Aramaic]] script.| footer_align = left | image2 = Sogdian barbaric copy of a coin of Euthydemus.jpg | total_width = 250 | caption1 = | image1 = Head of Bactrian ruler (Satrap), Temple of the Oxus, Takht-i-Sangin, 3rd-2nd century BCE (left side).jpg | caption2 = }}
| direzione = verticale
A now-independent and warlike Sogdiana formed a border region insulating the Achaemenid Persians from the nomadic [[Scythians]] to the north and east.<ref>"The province of Sogdia was to Asia what Macedonia was to Greece: a buffer between a brittle civilization and the restless barbarians beyond, whether the Scyths of Alexander's day and later or the [[White Huns]], Turks and Mongols who eventually poured south to wreck the thin veneer of Iranian society" ([[Robin Lane Fox]], ''Alexander the Great'' (1973) 1986:301).</ref> It was led at first by [[Bessus]], the Achaemenid [[satrap]] of [[Bactria]]. After assassinating [[Darius III]] in his flight from the [[Macedonia (ancient kingdom)|Macedonian Greek]] army,<ref>John Prevas (2004), ''Envy of the Gods: Alexander the Great's Ill-Fated Journey across Asia'', Da Capo Press, pp 60–69.</ref><ref>Independent Sogdiana: Lane Fox (1973, 1986:533) notes [[Quintus Curtius]], vi.3.9: with no satrap to rule them, they were under the command of [[Bessus]] at [[Gaugamela]], according to [[Arrian]], iii.8.3.</ref> he became claimant to the Achaemenid throne. The [[Sogdian Rock]] or Rock of Ariamazes, a fortress in Sogdiana, was captured in 327 BC by the forces of [[Alexander the Great]], the ''[[basileus]]'' of Macedonian Greece, and conqueror of the Persian Achaemenid Empire.<ref>Horn, LT Bernd; Spencer, Emily, eds. (2012), ''No Easy Task: Fighting in Afghanistan'', Dundurn Press Ltd, p. 40, {{ISBN|978-1-4597-0164-9}}.</ref> [[Oxyartes]], a Sogdian nobleman of Bactria, had hoped to keep his daughter [[Roxana]] safe at the fortress of the Sogdian Rock, yet after its fall Roxana was soon wed to Alexander as one of his several wives.<ref name="ahmed 2004 p61">Ahmed, S. Z. (2004), ''Chaghatai: the Fabulous Cities and People of the Silk Road'', West Conshokoken: Infinity Publishing, p. 61.</ref> Roxana, a Sogdian whose name ''Roshanak'' means "little star",<ref name="livius roxane">Livius.org. "[https://www.livius.org/articles/person/roxane/ Roxane]." ''Articles on Ancient History''. Page last modified 17 August 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2016.</ref><ref name="strachan 2008 p87">Strachan, Edward and Roy Bolton (2008), ''Russia and Europe in the Nineteenth Century'', London: Sphinx Fine Art, p. 87, {{ISBN|978-1-907200-02-1}}.</ref><ref>For another publication calling her "Sogdian", see Christopoulos, Lucas (August 2012), "Hellenes and Romans in Ancient China (240 BC – 1398 AD)", in Victor H. Mair (ed), ''Sino-Platonic Papers'', No. 230, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, University of Pennsylvania Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations, p. 4, {{ISSN|2157-9687}}.</ref> was the mother of [[Alexander IV of Macedon]], who inherited his late father's throne in 323 BC (although the empire was soon divided in the [[Wars of the Diadochi]]).<ref>William Smith, eds et al. (1873), ''A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, Volume 1'', London: John Murray, p. 122.</ref> ▼ | immagine1 = Head of Bactrian ruler (Satrap), Temple of the Oxus, Takht-i-Sangin, 3rd-2nd century BCE (left side).jpg
| immagine2 = Sogdian barbaric copy of a coin of Euthydemus.jpg
| sotto = '''In alto:''' testa in argilla dipinta e [[alabastro]] di un [[Mōbadh|sacerdote zoroastriano]] che indossa un caratteristico copricapo in stile [[Battriana|battriano]], Takht-i Sangin, Tagikistan, III-II secolo a.C.<br/>'''In basso:''' una [[Barbaro|rozza]] imitazione di una moneta del re [[Regno greco-battriano|greco-battriano]] [[Eutidemo I]], proveniente dalla regione della Sogdiana; la legenda sul rovescio è in scrittura [[Lingua aramaica|aramaica]].
}}
▲ADivenuta now-independentindipendente ande warlikebellicosa, la Sogdiana formedrappresentò auna borderregione regiondi insulatingconfine theche Achaemenidisolava Persiansi fromPersiani theAchemenidi nomadicdagli [[ ScythiansSciti]] tonomadi thea northnord ande easta est.<ref> "The{{cita provincelibro of| Sogdiaautore=Robin wasLane toFox | anno=1986 | annooriginale=1973 | citazione=La provincia della Sogdiana era per l'Asia whatciò che la Macedonia wasera toper Greecela Grecia: aun buffercuscinetto betweentra auna brittlefragile civilizationciviltà ande thegli restlessinquieti barbariansbarbari beyondoltre confine, whetherfossero thegli ScythsSciti ofdei Alexander'stempi daydi andAlessandro latero orpiù thetardi gli [[ WhiteUnni Hunsbianchi]], Turksi andTurchi Mongolso whoi eventuallyMongoli pouredche southsi toriversavano wrecka thesud thinper veneerdistruggere ofla Iraniansottile society"vernice ([[Robindella Lanesocietà Fox]],iraniana. ''| p=301 | titolo=Alexander the Great '' (1973) 1986:301).}}</ref> ItInizialmente wasfu ledguidata at first byda [[ BessusBesso (satrapo)|Besso]], the Achaemenidil [[ satrapsatrapo]] ofachemenide della [[ BactriaBattriana]]. AfterDopo assassinatingaver assassinato [[ DariusDario III di Persia|Dario III]] indurante hisla flightfuga from thedall'esercito [[ MacedoniaRegno (ancientdi kingdom)Macedonia| Macedoniangreco Greekmacedone]] army,<ref>John Prevas (2004), ''Envy of the Gods: Alexander the Great's Ill-Fated Journey across Asia'', Da Capo Press, pp 60–69.</ref><ref>Independent Sogdiana: Lane Fox (1973, 1986:533) notes [[Quintus Curtius]], vi.3.9: with no satrap to rule them, they were under the command of [[Bessus]] at [[Gaugamela]], according to [[Arrian]], iii.8.3.</ref> heegli becamedivenne claimantpretendente toal thetrono Achaemenid throneachemenide. TheLa [[ SogdianRocca Rocksogdiana]] , ordetta Rockanche ofRocca di AriamazesArimaze, auna fortezza fortresssituata in Sogdiana, wasfu capturedconquistata innel 327 BCa.C. bydalle theforze forces ofdi [[ AlexanderAlessandro the GreatMagno]], theil ''[[basileus]]'' ofdella MacedonianGrecia GreeceMacedone, andconquistatore conquerordell'Impero ofachemenide the Persian Achaemenid Empirepersiano.<ref> Horn,{{cita libro LT| curatore=L. T. Bernd ; Spencer,Horn e Emily , eds.Spencer (| anno=2012 ), ''| titolo=No Easy Task: Fighting in Afghanistan '', | editore=Dundurn Press Ltd , | p . =40 , {{ISBN| isbn=978-1-4597-0164-9}} .</ref> [[ OxyartesOssiarte|Oxiarte]], aun Sogdiannobile noblemansogdiano ofdella BactriaBattriana, hadaveva hopedsperato todi keepmettere hisal daughtersicuro sua figlia [[ RoxanaRossane|Roxane]] safenella atfortezza the fortress of thedella SogdianRocca Rocksogdiana, yettuttavia afterdopo itsla fallsua Roxanacaduta wasRoxane soondivenne wedben topresto Alexandermoglie asdi oneAlessandro, ofuna delle hissue severaldiverse wivesspose.<ref name="ahmed 2004 p61"> Ahmed,{{cita libro | autore=S. Z. (Ahmed | anno=2004 ), ''| titolo=Chaghatai: the Fabulous Cities and People of the Silk Road '', | città=West Conshokoken : | editore=Infinity Publishing , p.| p=61 .}}</ref> RoxanaRoxane, auna Sogdiansogdiana whoseil namecui nome ''Roshanak'' meanssignifica "little«piccola star"stella»,<ref name="livius roxane"> {{cita web | sito=Livius.org . "[| url=https://www.livius.org/articles/person/roxane/ | capitolo=Roxane ]." ''| titolo=Articles on Ancient History ''. Page last modified| data=17 Augustagosto 2015 . Retrieved| accesso=29 Augustagosto 2016 .}}</ref><ref name="strachan 2008 p87"> Strachan,{{cita libro | autore=Edward andStrachan e Roy Bolton (| anno=2008 ), ''| titolo=Russia and Europe in the Nineteenth Century '', London:| città=Londra | editore=Sphinx Fine Art , p.| p=87 , {{ISBN| isbn=978-1-907200-02-1}} .</ref><ref> For{{cita anotherlibro publication| calling her "Sogdian", seeautore=Lucas Christopoulos , Lucas| (Augustdata=agosto 2012 ), "| capitolo=Hellenes and Romans in Ancient China (240 BC – 1398 AD) ", in| curatore=Victor H. Mair (ed),| ''titolo=Sino-Platonic Papers '', No.| numero=230 , | editore=Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, University of Pennsylvania Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations , | p . =4 , {{ISSN| issn=2157-9687}} .</ref> wasfu themadre mother ofdi [[ AlexanderAlessandro IV ofdi MacedonMacedonia]], whoche inheritedereditò hisil latetrono father'salla thronemorte indi suo padre nel 323 BCa.C. ( althoughanche these empirel'impero wasfu soonpresto dividedsuddiviso in thedalle [[ Warsguerre ofdei the Diadochidiadochi]]).<ref> {{cita libro | curatore=William Smith , eds ''et al. '' (| anno=1873 ), ''| titolo=A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, Volume 1 '', London:| città=Londra | editore=John Murray , p.| p=122 .}}</ref>
AfterDopo anuna extendedlunga campaigncampagna puttingper downreprimere Sogdianla resistanceresistenza andsogdiana e foundingaver militaryfondato outpostsavamposti mannedmilitari bypresidiati hisda Macedonianveterani veteransmacedoni, AlexanderAlessandro unitedunificò la Sogdiana withcon Bactriala intoBattriana, oneformando un'unica satrapysatrapia. TheIl Sogdiannobile noblemane andcondottiero warlordsogdiano [[SpitamenesSpitamene]] (370–328370-328 BCa.C.), alliedalleato withcon Scythiantribù tribesscite, ledguidò anuna uprisingrivolta againstcontro Alexander'sle forze di forcesAlessandro. ThisQuesta revoltrivolta wasvenne putrepressa downda byAlessandro Alexandere anddai hissuoi generalsgenerali [[AmyntasAminta (sonufficiale ofdi Alessandro AndromenesMagno)|AmyntasAminta]], [[CraterusCratero]], ande [[CoenusCeno (generalgenerale)|CoenusCeno]], withcon thel'aiuto aiddi oftruppe nativelocali Bactrian andbattriane Sogdiane troopssogdiane.<ref name="holt 1989 pp64-65">Holt,{{cita libro | autore=Frank L. (Holt | anno=1989), ''| titolo=Alexander the Great and Bactria: the Formation of a Greek Frontier in Central Asia'', Leiden| città=Leida, New York, Copenhagen,Copenaghen Cologne:e Colonia | editore=E. J. Brill, | pp=64-65 64–65| (see also footnote #62 for mention of Sogdian troops), {{ISBN|isbn=90-04-08612-9}}.</ref> WithSconfitti thei Scythianribelli and Sogdiansciti rebelse defeatedsogdiani, SpitamenesSpitamene wassarebbe allegedlystato betrayedtradito bydalla hismoglie ownstessa wifee and beheadeddecapitato.<ref>Holt,{{cita libro | autore=Frank L. (Holt | anno=1989), ''| titolo=Alexander the Great and Bactria: the Formation of a Greek Frontier in Central Asia'', Leiden| città=Leida, New York, Copenhagen,Copenaghen Cologne:e Colonia | editore=E. J. Brill, | p. =65 (see| footnote #63), {{ISBN|isbn=90-04-08612-9}}.</ref> PursuantIn withseguito hisal ownsuo marriagematrimonio tocon RoxanaRoxane, AlexanderAlessandro encouragedincoraggiò hisi mensuoi tosoldati marrya Sogdiansposare women indonne ordersogdiane toper discouragescoraggiare furtherulteriori revoltribellioni.<ref name="ahmed 2004 p61" /><ref>Holt,{{cita libro | autore=Frank L. (Holt | anno=1989), ''| titolo=Alexander the Great and Bactria: the Formation of a Greek Frontier in Central Asia'', Leiden| città=Leida, New York, CopenhagenCopenaghen, Cologne:Colonia | editore=E. J. Brill, | pp=67-68 67–8,| {{ISBN|isbn=90-04-08612-9}}.</ref> ThisTra includedqueste c'era [[Apama I|Apama]], daughterfiglia of thedel rebelribelle SpitamenesSpitamene, whoche wedsposò [[SeleucusSeleuco I NicatorNicatore]] ande boregli himdiede un figlio, [[AntiochusAntioco I Soter|a son and future heirerede]] to theal [[SeleucidImpero Empireseleucide|Seleucidtrono throneseleucide]].<ref name="magill et al 1998 p1010">Magill,{{cita libro | autore=Frank N. Magill ''et al.'' (| anno=1998), ''| titolo=The Ancient World: Dictionary of World Biography, Volume 1'', | città=Pasadena, Chicago, London,:Londra | editore=Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, Salem Press, p.| p=1010, {{ISBN| isbn=0-89356-313-7}}.</ref> AccordingSecondo to thelo Romanstorico historianromano [[AppianAppiano di Alessandria|Appiano]], SeleucusSeleuco I nameddiede threeil newnome Hellenisticdi citiesApama a tre innuove Asiacittà afterellenistiche herin Asia (seevedi ''[[Apamea (disambiguationdisambigua)|Apamea]]''<!--intentional link to DAB page-->).<ref name="magill et al 1998 p1010" /><ref>{{Cite EB19111911|wstitlesource=Apamea}}</ref>
TheLa militarypotenza powermilitare ofdei thesogdiani Sogdiansnon neversi recoveredriprese mai del tutto. SubsequentlyIn seguito, la Sogdiana formedfece partparte ofper thecirca un secolo del [[HellenisticEllenismo|Regno ellenistico]] [[GrecoRegno greco-Bactrian Kingdombattriano|greco-battriano]], auno breakawaystato stateseparatista fromdell'impero theseleucide Seleucidfondato Empire founded innel 248 BCa.C. byda [[DiodotusDiodoto I]], for roughly a century.<ref>Christopoulos,{{cita libro | autore=Lucas (AugustChristopoulos | data=agosto 2012), "| capitolo=Hellenes and Romans in Ancient China (240 BC – 1398 AD)", in| curatore=Victor H. Mair (ed),| ''titolo=Sino-Platonic Papers'', No.| numero=230, | editore=Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, University of Pennsylvania Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations, | pp=8-9 8–9,| {{ISSN|issn=2157-9687}}.</ref><ref>Mark J. Dresden (1981), "Introductory Note", in Guitty Azarpay, ''Sogdian Painting: the Pictorial Epic in Oriental Art'', Berkeley, Los Angeles, London: University of California Press, pp 3–5, {{ISBN|0-520-03765-0}}.</ref> [[Euthydemus I]], a former satrap of Sogdiana, seems to have held the Sogdian territory as a rival claimant to the Greco-Bactrian throne; [[Ancient Greek coinage|his coins]] were later copied locally and bore [[Aramaic language|Aramaic inscriptions]].<ref>Jeffrey D. Lerner (1999), ''The Impact of Seleucid Decline on the Eastern Iranian Plateau: the Foundations of Arsacid Parthia and Graeco-Bactria'', Stuttgart: Steiner, pp 82–84, {{ISBN|3-515-07417-1}}.</ref> The Greco-Bactrian king [[Eucratides I]] may have recovered sovereignty of Sogdia temporarily.
=== Saka and Kushan periods (146 BC–260 AD) ===
|
