Lesson test: The Sogdians

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The Sogdians

1.[3p]
Match each Chinese surname adopted by Sogdian settlers to the city it stands for.

Kang
An
Shi
Mi

Kesh
Maimargh
Bukhara
Samarkand

Show the answer

Kang: Samarkand An: Bukhara Shi: Kesh Mi: Maimargh

2.[3p]
What does the existence of the Chinese official post of sabao show?

That the Sogdian communities were permanent, self-organised and large enough for the state to co-opt their leaders

Correct

That Sogdians were forbidden to trade without a licence

The answer is: That the Sogdian communities were permanent, self-organised and large enough for the state to co-opt their leaders

That Chinese officials ran the caravans themselves

The answer is: That the Sogdian communities were permanent, self-organised and large enough for the state to co-opt their leaders

That the Sogdians had conquered part of northern China

The answer is: That the Sogdian communities were permanent, self-organised and large enough for the state to co-opt their leaders

3.[1p]
The Sogdian Ancient Letters reached the people they were addressed to.

True

The answer is: False

False

Correct

4.[3p]
An agent holds a cargo worth 100 and earns 10 a year while honest. Above what discount rate, in per cent, does stealing the cargo become the better choice?

CorrectNot quite: 10

5.[3p]
What did a trading diaspora add that made honest dealing pay?

Portable collective punishment, family hostages at home, and assets seizable in the homeland

Correct

Written contracts enforceable in Chinese courts

The answer is: Portable collective punishment, family hostages at home, and assets seizable in the homeland

Insurance sold by the oasis kingdoms

The answer is: Portable collective punishment, family hostages at home, and assets seizable in the homeland

Higher commissions than any competitor could offer

The answer is: Portable collective punishment, family hostages at home, and assets seizable in the homeland

6.[3p]
Put these scripts in the order in which each was adapted from the one before.

Sogdian
Manchu
Mongol
Uighur
Aramaic

Show the answer

c, a, d, b, e

7.[2p]
Which language spoken today in Tajikistan descends from Sogdian? One word.

CorrectNot quite: Yaghnobi

8.[3p]
Why does almost all surviving Sogdian-language material come from outside Sogdiana?

Sogdiana is irrigated and continuously occupied, so organic material rots and later building destroys earlier layers

Correct

Sogdians were forbidden to write in their own language at home

The answer is: Sogdiana is irrigated and continuously occupied, so organic material rots and later building destroys earlier layers

The Arab conquest deliberately destroyed all documents in Sogdiana

The answer is: Sogdiana is irrigated and continuously occupied, so organic material rots and later building destroys earlier layers

Sogdian was only ever written by expatriates

The answer is: Sogdiana is irrigated and continuously occupied, so organic material rots and later building destroys earlier layers

9.[1p]
The archive of Divashtich, the last ruler of Panjikent, was found on Mount Mugh.

True

Correct

False

The answer is: True

1.[3p] Match each Chinese surname adopted by Sogdian settlers to the city it stands for.

2.[3p] What does the existence of the Chinese official post of sabao show?

3.[1p] The Sogdian Ancient Letters reached the people they were addressed to.

4.[3p] An agent holds a cargo worth 100 and earns 10 a year while honest. Above what discount rate, in per cent, does stealing the cargo become the better choice?

5.[3p] What did a trading diaspora add that made honest dealing pay?

6.[3p] Put these scripts in the order in which each was adapted from the one before.

7.[2p] Which language spoken today in Tajikistan descends from Sogdian? One word.

8.[3p] Why does almost all surviving Sogdian-language material come from outside Sogdiana?

9.[1p] The archive of Divashtich, the last ruler of Panjikent, was found on Mount Mugh.

1.[3p]
Match each Chinese surname adopted by Sogdian settlers to the city it stands for.

2.[3p]
What does the existence of the Chinese official post of sabao show?

3.[1p]
The Sogdian Ancient Letters reached the people they were addressed to.

4.[3p]
An agent holds a cargo worth 100 and earns 10 a year while honest. Above what discount rate, in per cent, does stealing the cargo become the better choice?

5.[3p]
What did a trading diaspora add that made honest dealing pay?

6.[3p]
Put these scripts in the order in which each was adapted from the one before.

7.[2p]
Which language spoken today in Tajikistan descends from Sogdian? One word.

8.[3p]
Why does almost all surviving Sogdian-language material come from outside Sogdiana?

9.[1p]
The archive of Divashtich, the last ruler of Panjikent, was found on Mount Mugh.