From Central Asia to Baghdad: a case study

My paper is within the range of studies which, during recent years, have been dedicated to the issue of the integration of Central-Asian élites in the ‘Abbasid Empire (from P. Crone, to E.L. Daniel, R.W. Bulliet, M. Gordon, H. Kennedy and above all Chase F. Robinson and E. de la Vaissière). Before reaching their top, these élites carried out an extraordinary political path: their primate in the state as well as in the army was the result of a gradual economic, social and political evolution of the links between Iraq and Central Asia during the 8th and 9th centuries. On this specific theme I shall focus my attention through a case study which is, in my opinion, exemplary and significant in certain ways: the case of the Banū Barmāk and their entourage will be investigated in a historically-social key with the purpose of highlighting the courses through which they were allowed to acquire such powerful positions. The main source of reference is the Kitāb al-wuzarā’ wa ’l-kuttāb by al-Jahshiyārī, this 10th century functionary and learned man concentrated particular attention in this work to the Banū Barmāk family. Naturally, together with al-Jahshiyārī’s story, reference will be made also to ancient Arab sources, commencing with al-Ṭabarī, al-Yaʿqūbī and ibn Aʿthām al-Kūfī.