Economic life under the Samanids and the decline
Answers are for parents and teachers.
1
Make a table of Samanid economic life: farming, crafts, trade, money.
Irrigated farming; weaving, paper; caravanserais, cheques; fals and dirham.
2
Why were caravanserais built? Write 3 sentences.
A place for caravans to stop, stay overnight and store goods; they made trade routes safer.
3
What is iqta and how did it change? Summarize the book’s information.
From the 10th century land and water were granted to officials, at first for a term and not inherited; iqta-holders took part of the taxes.
4
Write 4 causes of the Samanid decline.
Military campaigns, internal quarrels, governors’ wilfulness, economic crisis and taxes.
5
Explain in 3 sentences the similarity between a modern bank cheque and the medieval check.
In both a document replaces money and is later exchanged for money elsewhere, which improves safety.