The Western Turk Khaganate and the local principalities

In the 5th–7th centuries Central Asia was divided into more than fifteen principalities. Neither the Eftalites nor the Turks interfered much in their internal affairs and only collected tribute. The largest was Sogdiana, which united eleven large domains in the Samarkand, Bukhara and Kesh oases of the Zarafshan and Kashkadarya valleys; its ruler was called ikhshid. Tokharistan lay between the Hissar mountains and the Hindu Kush with Balkh as its capital, and its rulers were first called malikshah and later yabghu. The rulers of Fergana were also called ikhshid, and the valley was known for cotton, rice and its famous horses. In the Chirchiq and Ohangaron valleys lay Chach (its ruler a tudun) and Ilaq (its governor a dehqon); on Chach coins a queen’s image appears beside the ruler’s. Towns usually had three parts — the citadel (kuhandiz), the inner town (shahristan) and the suburb (rabot) — surrounded by walls, while in the countryside kushks, castles and fortresses were built.