Does anyone have a good screenshot of the 867 culture map in Asia?
I just noticed this, and I am absolutely ashamed I did not notice this beforehand given my interest in the Silk Road and that my history degree partly focused on it, but in the 867 and 1066 start dates the southern Tarim Basin should be Khotanese/Saka, not Sogdian. The Kingdom of Khotan had just been defeated a mere few decades before, and the main language there was Khotanese/Saka, not Sogdian. I ask about the 867 map because I want to see if Khotanese/Saka exists in that start date.
Anyways, if it does not, then I propose that Khotanese/Saka be added as a culture to the southern and Western parts of the Tarim Basin. Linguistically, culturally, and politically, they were distinct from the nearby Sogdians, who spoke a different East Iranian language. The Kingdom of Khotan was one of the more powerful Tarim Basin states along the Silk Road, and played an important role in the spread and development of Buddhist religion and culture.
Crusader Kings 2 actually had this issue too when Central Asia was first added into the game, and it was only rectified with the addition of the Saka culture later on. Though I prefer the culture to be called Khotanese, to emphasize the importance of the Kingdom of Khotan, I understand why the devs of CK2 chose Saka, as it encompasses both the Khotanese and Tumshuqese dialects of Saka.
I just noticed this, and I am absolutely ashamed I did not notice this beforehand given my interest in the Silk Road and that my history degree partly focused on it, but in the 867 and 1066 start dates the southern Tarim Basin should be Khotanese/Saka, not Sogdian. The Kingdom of Khotan had just been defeated a mere few decades before, and the main language there was Khotanese/Saka, not Sogdian. I ask about the 867 map because I want to see if Khotanese/Saka exists in that start date.
Anyways, if it does not, then I propose that Khotanese/Saka be added as a culture to the southern and Western parts of the Tarim Basin. Linguistically, culturally, and politically, they were distinct from the nearby Sogdians, who spoke a different East Iranian language. The Kingdom of Khotan was one of the more powerful Tarim Basin states along the Silk Road, and played an important role in the spread and development of Buddhist religion and culture.
Crusader Kings 2 actually had this issue too when Central Asia was first added into the game, and it was only rectified with the addition of the Saka culture later on. Though I prefer the culture to be called Khotanese, to emphasize the importance of the Kingdom of Khotan, I understand why the devs of CK2 chose Saka, as it encompasses both the Khotanese and Tumshuqese dialects of Saka.
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