Home Region:  Afghanistan (Central and Northern Eurasia)

Tocharians

129 BCE 29 CE
EQ 2020  af_tocharian / AfTochr
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
[elite migration; Sakas] [elite replacement]   Update here

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.
35 CE 319 CE Kushan Empire (af_kushan_emp)    [continuity]

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  General Description  
The period of Sogdian and Bactrian history between the disintegration of the Greco-Bactrian kingdom in the late 2nd century BCE and the rise of the Kushan Empire in the 1st century CE is poorly understood. The region was politically fragmented and the local settled populations were subjected to nomadic invasions, notably by a group of pastoralists and traders known to us by their Chinese name, Yuezhi. [1] [2] The Yuezhi are also sometimes referred to as ’Tochari’ by scholars who believe they spoke a Tocharian language, part of an extinct Indo-European language group. [1] (Others argue that their original language was eastern Iranic or proto-Turkic.) [3]
In the mid-1st millennium BCE and perhaps even earlier, the Yuezhi were living on the steppes to the north of China. [2] However, after coming into conflict with other nomadic groups, the Xiongnu and Wusun, they migrated towards Sogdiana. [1] By 129 BCE, when the Han Chinese diplomat Zhang Qian visited the Yuezhi court on the Oxus river, they were ruling over a region that included parts of the old Hellenistic Greco-Bactrian kingdom. [2]
In the early 1st century CE, the first Kushan king, Kujula Kadphises, seized power and began ruling over south-eastern Sogdiana, marking the end of our Yuezhi period. [4] Kujula Kadphises was probably a member of one of five Yuezhi factions or subtribes, which he succeeded in unifying through military conquest, [4] but even this is disputed.
Population and political organization
The Yuezhi in Bactria and Sogdiana seem to have been organized into a federation of five tribes that competed for political supremacy in the new territory. [5] There is no written or numismatic evidence of a centralized Yuezhi state with a single paramount ruler before the rise of Kujula Kadphises. [4] Historian Craig Benjamin has characterized Yuezhi control over the sedentary population of northern Bactria and Sogdia as that of a militarily superior ruling dynasty of nomads, ’pastoralist conquerors’ whose ’nominal sovereignty’ was acknowledged by the locals because they feared violence if they refused to submit. [1]
Secure estimates for the combined population of the ruling Yuezhi and the settled population under their control in this period are lacking.

[1]: (Benjamin 2006) Benjamin, Craig. 2006. "The Yuezhi Migration and Sogdia." In Ēran Ud Anērān: Studies Presented to Boris Ilich Marshak on the Occasion of His 70th Birthday, edited by Matteo Compareti, Paola Raffeta, and Gianroberto Scarcia, Electronic version. Transoxiana Webfestschrift Series I. http://www.transoxiana.org/Eran/Articles/benjamin.html. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/KEWTMPWX.

[2]: (Liu 2001, 264-65) Liu, Xinru. 2001. "Migration and Settlement of the Yuezhi-Kushan: Interaction and Interdependence of Nomadic and Sedentary Societies." Journal of World History 12 (2): 261-92. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/QZA3GBJ7.

[3]: (Hill 2009, 312) Hill, John E. 2009. Through the Jade Gate to Rome: A Study of the Silk Routes during the Later Han Dynasty, 1st to 2nd Centuries CE. An Annotated Translation of the Chronicle on the "Western Regions" from the Hou Hanshu. Charleston, SC: BookSurge Publishing. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/67NGJHIK.

[4]: (Hill 2009, 345) Hill, John E. 2009. Through the Jade Gate to Rome: A Study of the Silk Routes during the Later Han Dynasty, 1st to 2nd Centuries CE. An Annotated Translation of the Chronicle on the "Western Regions" from the Hou Hanshu. Charleston, SC: BookSurge Publishing. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/67NGJHIK.

[5]: (Liu 2001, 272) Liu, Xinru. 2001. "Migration and Settlement of the Yuezhi-Kushan: Interaction and Interdependence of Nomadic and Sedentary Societies." Journal of World History 12 (2): 261-92. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/QZA3GBJ7.

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.
Religion Variables Coding in Progress.
Crisis Consequence Cases Coding in Progress.
Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range Tocharians (af_tocharian) was in:
 (129 BCE 29 CE) Sogdiana
Home NGA: Sogdiana

General Variables
Identity and Location Tocharians (af_tocharian)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 42 T 129 BCE  29 CE
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Original Name Tocharians 129 BCE  29 CE
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Capital 129 BCE  29 CE
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Alternative Name Kushans 129 BCE  29 CE
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Alternative Name Yuezhi 129 BCE  29 CE
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Alternative Name Yueh-chih 129 BCE  29 CE
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Temporal Bounds Tocharians (af_tocharian)
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Duration
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Political and Cultural Relations Tocharians (af_tocharian)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Supracultural Entity 129 BCE  29 CE
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Succeeding Entity 129 BCE  29 CE
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Scale of Supracultural Interaction 129 BCE  29 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity 129 BCE  29 CE
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Preceding Entity
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Succeeding Entity
35 CE 319 CE
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Degree of Centralization 129 BCE  29 CE
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Language Tocharians (af_tocharian)
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Linguistic Family Indo-European 129 BCE  29 CE
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Language 129 BCE  29 CE
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Language 129 BCE  29 CE
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Religion Tocharians (af_tocharian)
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Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Tocharians (af_tocharian)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Polity Territory 129 BCE  29 CE
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Polity Population 129 BCE  29 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Tocharians (af_tocharian)
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Settlement Hierarchy 129 BCE  29 CE
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Religious Level 129 BCE  29 CE
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Military Level 129 BCE  29 CE
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Administrative Level 129 BCE  29 CE
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Professions Tocharians (af_tocharian)
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Professional Soldier 129 BCE  29 CE
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Professional Priesthood 129 BCE  29 CE
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Professional Military Officer 129 BCE  29 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Tocharians (af_tocharian)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building 129 BCE  29 CE
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Merit Promotion Unknown Suspected 129 BCE  29 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat 129 BCE  29 CE
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Examination System Unknown Suspected 129 BCE  29 CE
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Law Tocharians (af_tocharian)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
129 BCE  29 CE
Specialized Buildings: polity owned Tocharians (af_tocharian)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Market 129 BCE  29 CE
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Irrigation System 129 BCE  29 CE
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Food Storage Site Unknown Suspected 129 BCE  29 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System 129 BCE  29 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Tocharians (af_tocharian)
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Road 129 BCE  29 CE
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Port 129 BCE  29 CE
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Canal Unknown Suspected 129 BCE  29 CE
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Bridge 129 BCE  29 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Tocharians (af_tocharian)
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Mines or Quarry Unknown Suspected 129 BCE  29 CE
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Information / Writing System Tocharians (af_tocharian)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record 129 BCE  29 CE
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Script Unknown Suspected 129 BCE  29 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing 129 BCE  29 CE
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Nonwritten Record 129 BCE  29 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Tocharians (af_tocharian)
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Scientific Literature 129 BCE  29 CE
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Sacred Text 129 BCE  29 CE
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Religious Literature 129 BCE  29 CE
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Practical Literature 129 BCE  29 CE
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Philosophy 129 BCE  29 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification 129 BCE  29 CE
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History 129 BCE  29 CE
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Fiction Unknown Suspected 129 BCE  29 CE
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Calendar 129 BCE  29 CE
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Information / Money Tocharians (af_tocharian)
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Precious Metal Unknown Suspected 129 BCE  29 CE
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Paper Currency Absent 129 BCE  29 CE
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Indigenous Coin 129 BCE  29 CE
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Foreign Coin 129 BCE  29 CE
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Article Present 129 BCE  29 CE
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Information / Postal System Tocharians (af_tocharian)
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General Postal Service Unknown Suspected 129 BCE  29 CE
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Courier Unknown Suspected 129 BCE  29 CE
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Information / Measurement System Tocharians (af_tocharian)
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Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Tocharians (af_tocharian)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade Unknown Suspected 129 BCE  29 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared Unknown Suspected 129 BCE  29 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared 129 BCE  29 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position Unknown Suspected 129 BCE  29 CE
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Modern Fortification 129 BCE  29 CE
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Moat Unknown Suspected 129 BCE  29 CE
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Fortified Camp Unknown Suspected 129 BCE  29 CE
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Earth Rampart Unknown Suspected 129 BCE  29 CE
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Ditch Unknown Suspected 129 BCE  29 CE
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Complex Fortification 129 BCE  29 CE
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Military use of Metals Tocharians (af_tocharian)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Steel 129 BCE  29 CE
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Steel 129 BCE  29 CE
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Iron 129 BCE  29 CE
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Copper 129 BCE  29 CE
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Bronze 129 BCE  29 CE
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Projectiles Tocharians (af_tocharian)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Tension Siege Engine Unknown Suspected 129 BCE  29 CE
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Sling Siege Engine 129 BCE  29 CE
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Sling Unknown Suspected 129 BCE  29 CE
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Self Bow 129 BCE  29 CE
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Javelin 129 BCE  29 CE
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Handheld Firearm 129 BCE  29 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery 129 BCE  29 CE
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Crossbow 129 BCE  29 CE
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Composite Bow 129 BCE  29 CE
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Atlatl 129 BCE  29 CE
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Handheld weapons Tocharians (af_tocharian)
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War Club 129 BCE  29 CE
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Sword 129 BCE  29 CE
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Spear 129 BCE  29 CE
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Polearm 129 BCE  29 CE
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Dagger 129 BCE  29 CE
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Battle Axe 129 BCE  29 CE
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Animals used in warfare Tocharians (af_tocharian)
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Horse 129 BCE  29 CE
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Elephant Unknown Suspected 129 BCE  29 CE
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Donkey 129 BCE  29 CE
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Dog Unknown Suspected 129 BCE  29 CE
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Camel 129 BCE  29 CE
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Armor Tocharians (af_tocharian)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc 129 BCE  29 CE
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Shield 129 BCE  29 CE
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Scaled Armor 129 BCE  29 CE
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Plate Armor 129 BCE  29 CE
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Limb Protection Unknown Suspected 129 BCE  29 CE
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Leather Cloth 129 BCE  29 CE
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Laminar Armor Unknown Suspected 129 BCE  29 CE
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Helmet 129 BCE  29 CE
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Chainmail 129 BCE  29 CE
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Breastplate Unknown Suspected 129 BCE  29 CE
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Naval technology Tocharians (af_tocharian)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Military Vessel Unknown Suspected 129 BCE  29 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc Unknown Suspected 129 BCE  29 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service Unknown Suspected 129 BCE  29 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Tocharians (af_tocharian)
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Human Sacrifice Tocharians (af_tocharian)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Instability Data
Power Transitions