FERGHANA IN THE EARLY MIDDLE AGES: POLITICAL AND ETHNIC PROCESSES

Abstract

This article discusses the issue to what extent Ferghana valley, like other historical and cultural possessions as Sogd, Chach, Ustrushana, as a separate political entity played role in ethno-political processes that happened in Central Asia in the early middle ages, in particular, VI-VIII centuries. Basing on written sources in Chinese, Sogdian, Arabic and Persian, there has been disclosed that Ferghana in that period actively participated in the political procedures of the region, held close political and diplomatic relations not only with neighboring or close oasis political units like Chach and Sogd, but also with the largest empires of their time, such as the Turkic khaganate, China and Tibet.