The Sogdian Merchant Network Behind the Silk Road

Trade Routes That Changed Human History Forever — Fexingo History · Jun 15, 2026 · 7m · transcript

This episode explores the Sogdians, the Persian-speaking merchants who dominated trade along the Silk Road from the 4th to the 8th century. We focus on their role as cultural and commercial intermediaries between China, India, and the West. Lucas and Luna discuss the Sogdian language as a lingua franca, the caravanserai system, and the spread of religions like Manichaeism and Buddhism via Sogdian traders. Key figures include the Sogdian merchant Nanai-vandak, from the Sogdian Ancient Letters, and the Tang official An Lushan, who was of Sogdian descent. We also touch on the fall of Sogdiana to…