Events

CSI Monday Majlis: Michael Shenkar

Sogdian Civilisation and the Arab Conquest

Register please on this link: https://Universityofexeter.zoom.us/meeting/register/I4D-2AlYTDSPJ6hkQpmuLw

Event details

Abstract

Michael Shenkar is Associate Professor of Ancient Iranian and Central Asian Studies and Director of the Kliakhandler Programme in Central Asian Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His specialisation lies in the study of the civilisations and cultures of the pre-Islamic Iranian world through their material remains and visual representations. His research interests include the archaeology, art, and religions of pre-Islamic Iran and Central Asia, with particular attention to Zoroastrianism (especially religious iconography), the culture of the Eurasian nomads, the Sogdian civilisation, and the “Silk Roads”. He is Co-Director of the excavations at the Sogdian site of Sanjar-Shah and Academic Head of the Kafyr-Kala excavation projects in Tajikistan. In addition, he serves as Visiting Professor in the Department of History of Samarkand Civilisation at Samarkand State University, Uzbekistan, and is an Honorary Affiliate of the Oxford Nizami Ganjavi Centre, University of Oxford.

https://www.ae-info.org/ae/Member/Shenkar_Michael

https://asia-africa.huji.ac.il/kliakhandler-program-central-asian-studies https://huji.academia.edu/MichaelShenkar

Abstract: From the second half of the eighth century, following the Arab conquest, Sogdian culture, art, and religion entered into decline. This decline was not the result of large-scale destruction, since the principal Sogdian cities were not razed, but rather of the irreversible collapse of the unique Sogdian social organisation. The talk examines the evidence for the transformation of Sogdian urban society in this period, with particular attention to settlement patterns and art, continuities, and cultural shifts in the early Islamic era. The discussion is based on new data from the Sanjar-Shah excavations, along with archaeological and historical sources, to reassess the consequences of the Arab conquest for Sogdian civilisation. 

In the spirit of the label ‘Majlis’ and also to make the talks even more interesting, our speakers present the topic discussed as embedded in their own journey. You can watch the previous Majlises here https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8YRkUahFj_81oJzCSDLTx4kVQQgeHLc-, but we don’t record the Q&A in order to keep the discussion free. Please come and enjoy the talks and the discussions : ) If you’d like to be included in the CSI (Centre for the Study of Islam, Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, University of Exeter) mailing list, please write to me (I.T.Kristo-Nagy@ex.ac.uk).

We’ll be happy to welcome you!