RURAL COMMUNITIES OF SOGD: DEMOGRAPHIC, ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

This article explores the structure and functions of rural communities in the early medieval Sogdian region, focusing on the Nakhshab oasis. Drawing upon archaeological research by S.K. Kabanov, as well as written sources such as the Mount Mug archive and the Tarikh of al-Tabari, the study examines how rural populations were organized into autonomous communal units based on familial ties or economic specialization. It highlights the role of community elders and village heads (dehqons), the tax system based on natural goods, and the practice of redistributive aid from state granaries. The findings demonstrate the significance of these rural communities in the agricultural, administrative, and defensive infrastructure of Sogdian society during the early medieval period.