Ancient Chorasmia

Ancient Chorasmia was a state in Transoxiana and Khwarazm (Central and North Asia) that lasted from c. 600 BCE to 305 CE, about 904 years. Its people spoke Iranian languages (Median, Persian, Parthian, Scythian, Sogdian, Pashto, Kurdish).

The irrigated delta of the Amu Darya south of the Aral Sea, an Achaemenid province that became independent in the 4th century BCE. Its fortified towns and canals are among the largest ancient works in Central Asia.

See Ancient Chorasmia on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

c. 600 BCE to 305 CE

Duration

904 years

Type

State

Region

Transoxiana and Khwarazm, Central and North Asia

Language family

Iranian

Capital

Kyzyl-kala, Toprak-kala

Became

• Afrighid dynasty c. 305 to 995 CE

Events in Central and North Asia during its time

• 530 BCE Cyrus the Great killed by the Massagetae
• 327 BCE Alexander marries Roxana
• 138 BCE Zhang Qian travels west

Neighbours in Central and North Asia

• Xiongnu Empire c. 209 BCE to 93 CE
• Sogdiana c. 545 BCE to 722 CE
• Kingdom of Khotan c. 200 BCE to 1006 CE
• Kushan Empire c. 30 to 375 CE
• Bactria (Achaemenid satrapy) c. 545 to 330 BCE
• Xianbei state c. 93 to 234 CE
• Greco-Bactrian Kingdom c. 256 to 125 BCE
• Kingdom of Kucha c. 100 BCE to 840 CE
• Afrighid dynasty c. 305 to 995 CE
• Kangju c. 200 BCE to 450 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Ghana Empire (Wagadu) c. 300 to 1200 CE, North and West Africa
• Kingdom of Aksum c. 100 to 940 CE, North and West Africa
• Moche (Mochica) c. 100 to 800 CE, South America
• Carthage c. 814 to 146 BCE, North and West Africa
• Teotihuacan c. 100 BCE to 550 CE, Mesoamerica and Caribbean
• Roman Republic 509 to 27 BCE, Europe
• Parthian Empire 247 BCE to 224 CE, Middle East
• Greek city-states c. 800 to 338 BCE, Europe
• Sasanian Empire 224 to 651 CE, Middle East
• Roman Empire 27 BCE to 395 CE, Europe

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