China: Head of a Sogdian merchant, ceramic, Sui Dynasty (581-618), Musee Cernuschi, Paris, France

The Sogdians established a trading network across the 2,400 kilometres (1,500 miles) from Sogdiana to China. In fact, the Sogdians turned their energies to trade so thoroughly that the Saka (Scythians) of the Kingdom of Khotan called all merchants suli, 'Sogdian', whatever their culture or ethnicity.

Sogdian contacts with China were initiated by the embassy of the Chinese explorer Zhang Qian during the reign of Wudi in the former Han Dynasty, 141–87 BCE.

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Supplier: CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Photographer:

Pratyeka

Credit:

Pictures From History