The History of Bukhara

"The History of Bukhara" by Narshakhi is unusual among city histories of the Middle East since it gives information on the origin of the city, its early rulers, and a topography of the city and surrounding villages, rather than merely biographies of religious leaders. The original publication has long been out of date and was oversupplied with footnotes. Richard Frye's translation from the Persian original has been corrected and is presented in a simple, readable form with introduction, commentary and appendices. Bukhara in the tenth century, under the rule of the Samanids, was a cultural centre that rivaled Baghdad, and it was called "the dome of learning in the East'. It was a populous metropolis, capital of the semi-independent dynasty which ruled most of present-day Iran and Central Asia. It was in Bukhara that the so-called 'Persian Renaissance' began, where the Persian language was raised to rival Arabic, and where poetry in the New Persian language was fostered by the rulers. Narshakhi describes life in villages, and how the Sogdian language continued to be spoken; he discusses textiles, coinage, and religious movements. This is a primary source for life in eastern Iran and Central Asia during a period of change in the Islamic world.