Thursday, February 7, 2008

Languages spoken over time in Xinjiang

I am doing some research on the groups and languages spoken in the Xinjiang and surrounding areas over the course of history, so I was just going to make some notes here. This is part of my desire to have a complete language summary of what is necessary to be able to read any documents pertaining to the history. Which is most likely ridiculous, but I am curious. Most of this is compiled from Starr's book on Xinjiang. With some random wikipedia schenanigins in there too (yay for questionable reliability, but I have not the time to do much research quite yet).

Prehistory

Old guys - early 2nd millennium BCE "Beauty of Loulan" found in Qewrighul. It is suggested that they spoke a form of Indo-European language.

Saka (塞) - Nomadic Indo-European people group with Iranian type language. Sites in Xinjiang found from around 650 BCE in Tashkughan, Ili, Toksun.

Yuezhi (月氏 also 月支) - Indo-Europeans who most likely spoke Tokharian. Formed the Kushan empire.

The Classical Period

Xiongnu (匈奴) - A confederation of Altaic tribes. Spoke a Yeniseian or Turkic language. Only 20 words inscribed on objects and one sentence transliterated into Chinese (yuck!) are known.

Han Dynasty (漢朝) - had some limited control in the Tarim basin area battling it out with the Xiongnu. Spoke some funny old chinese most likely.

Yuzhi (月氏 also 月支) - same as above.

Wusun (烏孫) - living in Zhungaria with Xiongnu; nomads. Maybe Turkic / Iranian / Tocharian language.

The Middle Period

first part is "Poorly documented" -- Starr

Ruanruan (柔然) - mongolian empire. Mid 4th century to late 6th century.

Northern Wei Dynasty (北魏) - were at least attacking the Ruanruan, but didn't have control of parts of Xinjiang

Hephathalites - remnants of Xiongnu & Persians in the area

Kok Turks - Mid 6th century. Overthrew Ruanruan. Divided into western (Zhungaria, Tarim) and eastern knanates. Eastern was involved with Sui and Tang dynasties

Tang dynasty - Spoke turkic in preference to Chinese, ruled indirectly over Xinjiang by creating an alliance with Western khanates. The Tang dynasty began the Turkicization of southern Xinjiang.

Tibetan empire

Uyghurs and the Karakhanids

Uyghurs Were part of the Turk empire. Established in 744; Destroyed in 840 by the Kyrgyz. Not muslims. Bogu, their khan, converted to Manichaeanism and later they embraced Buddhism and tolerated Christianity, and opposed Islam. Maintained ties with Soghdia, India, and China.

No comments: