The people’s struggle against the Arab conquest

In the early 8th century the Arabs began campaigns into Central Asia. The campaign was led by the experienced commander Qutayba ibn Muslim. At that time there was no single strong state in our land and small domains were disunited, which helped the Arabs. Even so, the local people resisted fiercely: for example, the Sogdian rulers Tarkhun and Ghurak, and later Devashtich, ruler of Panjakent (around 722), fought the Arabs. By about 715 the Arabs had subdued Movarounnahr (“the land beyond the river”). Taxes on the local population were raised and good land was given to settlers brought in. This increased discontent. From about 776 to 783 a large uprising took place around Bukhara and Kesh (Kashkadarya) under Muqanna. Muqanna’s real name was Hashim ibn Hakim, and he got his name because he covered his face with a mask. The rebels wore white, so they were called the “white-clad”. The Arabs defeated the rebels one by one and besieged and took the fortress of Som in Kashkadarya, the rebels’ base. The uprising was put down in 783. Although it was defeated, it showed the people’s readiness to fight for freedom.