Samanid Empire facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Samanid Empire سامانیان
819–999
The Samanid Empire at its greatest extent under Ismail Samani
Capital	Samarkand (819–892) Bukhara (892–999)
Common languages	Persian (lingua franca, court, academia), Arabic (theology)
Religion	Sunni Islam (minority Shia Islam, Nestorianism, Zoroastrianism)
Government	Emirate
Emir
• 819–864/5	Ahmad ibn Asad
• 999	'Abd al-Malik II
Historical era	Middle Ages
• Established	819
• Disestablished	999
Area
928 est.	2,850,000 km2 (1,100,000 sq mi)
Preceded by Succeeded by Saffarid dynasty Abbasid Caliphate Alid dynasties of northern Iran Banijurids Bukhar Khudahs Principality of Ushrusana Principality of Farghana Sogdia Ghaznavid dynasty Karakhanids Banu Ilyas Farighunids Muhtajids Buyid dynasty

The Samanid Empire (Persian: سامانیان, Sāmāniyān, also known as the Samanian Empire, Samanid dynasty, Samanid Emirate, or simply Samanids) was a Sunni Iranian empire from 819 to 999. The empire was centered in Khorasan and Transoxiana during its existence; at its greatest extent, the empire encompassed all of today's Afghanistan, large parts of Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and parts of Kazakhstan and Pakistan.

The Samanid state was founded by four brothers; Nuh, Ahmad, Yahya, and Ilyas—each of them ruled their own territory under Abbasid suzerainty. In 892, Ismail Samani (892–907) united the Samanid state under one ruler, thus effectively putting an end to the feudal system used by the Samanids. It was also under him that the Samanids became independent of Abbasid authority.

The Samanid Empire is part of the Iranian Intermezzo, which saw the creation of a Persianate culture and identity that brought Iranian speech and traditions into the fold of the Islamic world. This would later lead to the formation of the Turko-Persian culture.

The Samanids promoted the arts, giving rise to the advancement of science and literature, and thus attracted scholars such as Rudaki, Ferdowsi, and Avicenna. While under Samanid control, Bukhara was a rival to Baghdad in its glory. Scholars note that the Samanids revived Persian language and culture more than the Buyids and the Saffarids, while continuing to patronize Arabic for sciences as well as the religious studies. They considered themselves to be descendants of the Sasanian Empire. In a famous edict, Samanid authorities declared that "here, in this region, the language is Persian, and the kings of this realm are Persian kings."

Images for kids

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  Picture of the Samanid Mausoleum, the burial site of Ismail Samani.

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  Coin of Nasr II, minted in Nishapur (933/4).

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  Iran in the mid-10th century.

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  “Battle Between Abu’l-Qasim and the Samanid Muntasir”, 14th century illustration.

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  The Sasanian king Khosrow II and his courtiers in a garden, page from a manuscript of the Shahnameh, late 15th-early 16th century. Brooklyn Museum.

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  Coinage of Malik ibn Shakartegin (Circa AH 312-344/ 924-955 CE), a Samanid ruler of Akhsikath. Ferghana mint, dated AH 382 (AD 992-3).

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  Example of figural earthenware ceramics from Samanid period. From Nishapur, Iran, 10th century CE.

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  Bowl with Arabic inscription "Planning before work protects you from regret; prosperity and peace", 10th century CE, Iran.