We are pleased to announce an upcoming online forum organized in collaboration between International Centre for Documentary Heritage(ICDH) and the International Institute for Central Asia Studies(IICAS) in Uzbekistan. This forum will provide valuable insights into the Sogdian script and its relevance in the context of Central Asia.

 

Additionally, this forum serves as a commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Vladimir A. Livshits (1923-2017), a prominent figure in Central Asian and Sogdian studies who made significant contributions to our understanding of these subjects.

 

Central Asia, located at the crossroads of civilizations, has been a melting pot of diverse cultures, languages, and traditions over the centuries. Situated in the heart of Eurasia, this region boasts a rich tapestry of art, literature, and philosophy that continues to captivate scholars worldwide.

 

During the forum, we will delve into the historical significance of Central Asia, particularly during the 7th and 8th centuries B.C., when it served as a hub for active trade. This trade network encompassed regions such as Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan.

 

Our discussions will encompass various aspects of Sogdian culture, including their distinctive language influenced by Aramaic, Syriac, and Manichaean scripts. We will also explore the discovery of numerous Sogdian script documents in locations like Dunhuang, China, in the late 19th century, which significantly contributed to our understanding of the Sogdians' role in Silk Road trade.

 

The Sogdians, primarily based in Sogdiana (modern-day Samarkand, Uzbekistan), held a strategically advantageous position in the heart of Asia. They played a pivotal role in international trade networks, connecting China's Chang'an (present-day Xi'an) to Byzantium in the East and forging trade routes extending into India and Central Asia. Notably, they were instrumental in the transmission of four of humanity's greatest inventions from China to the West: gunpowder, the compass, paper, and typography.

 

This exchange of knowledge and goods is widely considered to have played a significant role in the expansion of civilization, the opening of sea routes, territorial acquisition, and the dissemination of knowledge, ultimately contributing to the development of a European-centered world history.

 

We invite all interested individuals to join this online forum, where you will have the opportunity to engage with esteemed scholars and broaden your understanding of Sogdian culture. Your participation would greatly enrich our discussions, and we look forward to welcoming you.

 

Event Details:

 

Time and Date  2023 September 15th ~ October 6th Every Friday

6:00 pm Korean Standard Time (KST)

 

No	Speaker	Topic	Date
1	Prof. Nicholas Sims-Williams	"The Rediscovery of Sogidan"	2023.9.15.(Fri) 6PM
	Link(Zoom)	https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82867633003?pwd=dGpVaFhzVkt1UXo3V3AvckwwYnM2Zz09
2	Prof. Frantz Grenet	"Dewashitich’s postal system"	2023.9.22.(Fri) 6PM
	Link(Zoom)	https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88298378975?pwd=bU1INlNwdnczRHpmc1A3NW5qUmx5UT09
3	Prof. Yutaka Yoshida	"Three Sogdian Inscriptions from Monglia"	2023.9.29.(Fri) 6PM
	Link(Zoom)	https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88169436021?pwd=MEF6enY3R2VGUjJiMnJCY0trV2dHUT09
4	Dr. Pavel Lurje	"New data on Turko-Sogdian monumental inscriptions from Kyrgyzstan"	2023.10.6.(Fri) 6PM
	Link(Zoom)	https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89707773068?pwd=NU4xQnJvMUpRUHJucFpuWXB6OHhUdz09