Ancient History and Archaeology of Central Asia

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering Central Asian history from the Stone Age through the Kushan Empire and the development of the Silk Road based on lecture notes.

What are the definitions for the terms Epigrafika, Numizmatika, and Arxeolog?

Epigrafika: bitiklar; Numizmatika: tangalar; Arxeolog: qazishma ishlari.

How is the work of an Antropolog and an Etnograf distinguished in the notes?

An Antropolog examines bone remains to reconstruct physical appearance, while an Etnograf studies udum (customs) and an’ana (traditions).

What are Totemizm, Fetishizm, and Animizm?

Totemizm is the belief in kinship with animals or plants; Fetishizm is the belief that objects bring luck and ward off evil; Animizm is the belief in spirits.

What are the Greek and Latin roots for the terms Paleolit and Eneolit?

Paleolit: From Greek “paleos” (ancient) and “litos” (stone). Eneolit: From Latin “eneus” (copper) and Greek “litos” (stone).

What is the chronological timeframe for the History of the Ancient World?

From the origin of man to the year $476$ (the fall of the Western Rim imperiyasi).

Which ancient texts are associated with Egypt, India, and Central Asia?

Egypt: “Piramidalar tarixi” and “Marhumlar kitobi”; India: “Rigveda”; Central Asia: “Avesto”.

Name the primary historical written sources for Central Asian history mentioned in the notes.

1. Avesto 2. Behistun inscriptions (Doro I) 3. “Tarix” by Gerodot (BC 5-asr) 4. “Geografiya” by Strabon (BC 1-asr) 5. “Makedoniyalik Aleksandr” by Kvint Kursiy Ruf (I asr) 6. “Aleksandrning harbiy yurishlari” by Arrian (II asr).

Where were the early human remains of Avstralopitek and Sinantrop discovered?

Avstralopitek: Janubiy Afrika (South Africa). Sinantrop: Xitoy (China).

Describe the findings at the Teshiktosh g’ori within the Boysun mountains.

Stone tools, animal bones (mountain goat, deer, wild horse, leopard, rabbit, birds), and the buried remains of an 8-9 year old Neandertal child surrounded by mountain goat horns.

What were the major inventions/discoveries of the Mezolit (mil. avv. 12-7-ming) period?

End of the Ice Age, bows and arrows, mikrolit (microliths), and the taming of animals (at the end).

What differentiates Neolit (mil. avv. 6-4-ming) from previous periods?

Transition to a productive economy (farming and herding), pottery (kulolchilik), weaving (to’quvchilik), and a sedentary lifestyle in paxsadan uylar (mud houses).

Which civilization first used iron, and when?

The Xettlar (Hittites) in Kichik Osiyo during the BC 14-13-aslar.

Define the social hierarchy of Ancient Central Asian society according to the Avesto.

Nmana (family) >> vis (clan) >> varzana (territorial community) >> zantu (tribe) >> dax’yu (tribal confederation).

Identify the three groups of Saks mentioned in Greek and Roman sources.

1. Saka-tigraxauda (wear pointed felt hats) 2. Saka-tiay-taradarayya (living beyond the river) 3. Saka-xaumovarka (worshippers of the sacred drink).

What are the three pillars of the Zardushtiylar (Zoroastrian) teaching?

Ezgu fikr (good thoughts), ezgu so’z (good words), and ezgu amal (good deeds).

Describe the Zoroastrian deities Ahuramazda, Mitra, and Anaxita.

Ahuramazda: supreme wise deity; Mitra: sun and light; Anaxita: fertility and water.

What was the outcome of Kir II’s campaign against the Massagetlar in mil. avv. 530?

The Massagetlar won the war, and Kir II was killed by the forces of Queen To’maris.

What was the Shiroq rivoyati regarding Doro I's campaign against the Saks?

The local hero Shiroq led the Persian army into a waterless desert for 7 days to protect his people.

Who led the resistance against Alexander the Great in Maroqand and which tactic was used?

Spitamen led the resistance; he used a pistirma (ambush) near the Zarafshon daryosi (Politimet) to destroy the Greek forces.

What was the administrative title for provincial governors in the Seleucid and Ahamoniy systems?

Satrap (from the Persian “xshatra” meaning province), who held unlimited power in their satraplik.

Name the capital of the Davan state in the Farg’ona valley according to Chinese sources.

Ershi.

Identify the primary rulers of the Kushon davlati (Kushan Empire).

1. Kudzula Kadfiz (founder) 2. Vima Kadfiz (introduced currency reform) 3. Kanishka (peak of development, moved capital to Peshovar).

What alphabet provided the basis for the Xorazmiy and So’g’diy scripts?

The Oromiy (Aramaic) script.

Who was Chjan Syan and what was his contribution to the Buyuk Ipak yo’li?

A Chinese ambassador sent by Emperor U-di; he discovered the Farg’ona (Davan) region and its 'heavenly horses' (samoviy otlar), paving the way for the Silk Road.

Which scholar named the 'Buyuk meridianal yo’l' as the 'Ipak yo’li' in 1877?

F. Rixtgofen (F. von Richthofen), a German geographer.