The city of Pekend - a historical study in its political and economic conditions until the year 456 AH - 1035 AD

Abstract

Transoxiana is one of the most important regions in the Islamic conquests, especially since it was known as the land of the Turks, where the Jayhun River, or what is known in modern studies (Amu Darya), was the dividing line between Khorasan and Transoxiana. In addition, a city appeared that had a prominent role in the Islamic conquests. It was the first city on the path of the Muslim conquerors because of its important location on those borders. Its fortification by its ruler played the most prominent role in the city’s steadfastness against many attacks. Which makes the road very difficult for every army trying to cross its walls and then it becomes a starting point for conquering other countries, and what gained it another importance is its location and commercial position until it became known as (the city of merchants), and the reason for that is that most of its people were merchants practicing the profession of trade with various countries of the ancient world and their trade was with India and China and to the north with the lands of Russia and even the lands of Khorasan, and the city of Bikand remained with what distinguishes its location in that it forms a link between Khorasan and most of the lands beyond the river and it had a distinguished role in the commercial and civilizational levels in these countries, in addition to that, more than one scholar was a student in it and graduated, and at the forefront of them stands: Sheikh Muhammad bin Salam Bikandi, the hadith scholar of Transoxiana and the scholar Imam Muhammad bin Ismail al-Bukhari (d. 256 AH/869 AD), who acquired knowledge in the city of Bikaner.

The research relied on two previous studies on the city of Bikand, from which the researcher also benefited. One of them talked about the city of Bikand from the conquest until the establishment of the Samanid Emirate by Dr. Tariq Fathi Sultan, while the other study was about the reasons for the delay of the Islamic conquest there by Dr. Sally Ali Badr.

The title of the research was (The city of Bikand, a historical study of its political and economic conditions until the year 456 AH - 1035 AD) and it was divided into three sections.

 (The first section) on the name of the city, its geographical location and population.

 (The second section) general conditions in the city of Bikand, which included a study of the political conditions, the opening of the city, revolutions and stability after the conquest.

 (The third section) economic conditions such as agriculture, trade and industry

in addition to the conclusion, a list of sources and references and footnotes of the research.