Latest / Trade Routes That Changed Human History Forever — Fexingo History
The Sogdian Wine Trade and the Birth of Central Asian Viticulture
This episode explores the Sogdian monopoly on Central Asian wine production and trade along the Silk Road. Drawing on archaeological finds at Panjikent and Samarkand, Lucas and Luna uncover how Sogdian merchants turned wine into a diplomatic tool, a religious symbol, and a source of immense wealth. They discuss the unique grape varieties cultivated in the Zeravshan Valley, the role of wine in Sogdian Zoroastrian rituals, and how the Arab conquest disrupted—but did not destroy—this ancient industry. The episode also touches on the Sogdian legacy in modern Central Asian winemaking, with…
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