Kingdom of Khotan

Kingdom of Khotan was a state in Tarim basin and Dzungaria (Central and North Asia) that lasted from c. 200 BCE to 1006 CE, about 1,205 years. Its people spoke Iranian languages (Median, Persian, Parthian, Scythian, Sogdian, Pashto, Kurdish).

A Saka Buddhist kingdom on the southern Silk Road, famous for jade and as the place where silk-making first spread west of China. The Muslim Kara-Khanids conquered it in 1006 after a long war.

See Kingdom of Khotan on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

c. 200 BCE to 1006 CE

Duration

1,205 years

Type

State

Region

Tarim basin and Dzungaria, Central and North Asia

Language family

Iranian

Capital

Khotan

Became

• Kara-Khanid Khanate c. 840 to 1212 CE

Events in Central and North Asia during its time

• 138 BCE Zhang Qian travels west
• 732 Orkhon inscriptions raised
• 751 Battle of Talas
• 762 Uyghur khagan adopts Manichaeism

Neighbours in Central and North Asia

• Xiongnu Empire c. 209 BCE to 93 CE
• First Turkic Khaganate 552 to 603 CE
• Sogdiana c. 545 BCE to 722 CE
• Uyghur Kingdom of Qocho c. 843 to 1335 CE
• Kara-Khanid Khanate c. 840 to 1212 CE
• Kushan Empire c. 30 to 375 CE
• Rouran Khaganate 330 to 555 CE
• Liao dynasty 916 to 1125 CE
• Samanid Empire 819 to 999 CE
• Xianbei state c. 93 to 234 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Republic of Venice c. 697 to 1797 CE, Europe
• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Europe
• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Middle East
• Swahili city-states c. 800 to 1700 CE, Central and Southern Africa
• Ghana Empire (Wagadu) c. 300 to 1200 CE, North and West Africa
• Holy Roman Empire 962 to 1806 CE, Europe
• Kingdom of Aksum c. 100 to 940 CE, North and West Africa
• Srivijaya c. 650 to 1377 CE, Southeast Asia
• Moche (Mochica) c. 100 to 800 CE, South America
• Carthage c. 814 to 146 BCE, North and West Africa

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