DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36958#0171
tress - protected the belt of statelets at the foot of the main
ranges against direct aggressions from the southern plains. Many
invaders lost their fervour in the cluster of narrow valleys without
tracks, but with a dense and hostile population.
Futile as well as successful inroads were followed by peaceful
contacts with the neighbours in the lowlands and induced religious
and socio-economic innovations. Foreigners were integrated and
held in dominant or obediant positions. Many migrations are evi-
dent; the intrusion of a pastoral population spreading the Shina
language, the infiltration of "menial castes" necessary for the
production of better arms, Sunnitic saints spread Islam and intro-
duced the wesh-system which enforces a periodical redistribution
of the land among all members of the community.
The spreading of men and ideas was a lengthy and difficult pro-
cess at times, with many setbacks. The earlier migration waves
reached Gilgit before the rise of Trakhané. Islam, however, was
introduced to Gilgit by missionary activities starting from Badakh-
shan and Eastern Turkestan. The believers of the new faith, split
into several rival sects, did not become predominant until the 17^
century AD.
At present, the best approach to a chronological charter of migra-
tion is the analysis of the settlement patterns. The goatbreeding
immigrants from the south (Pakli?) preferred strongholds on the
top of mountains, integrated into a network of temporary habita-
tions.
The population who had embraced Islam was ordered to construct
village-fortresses. The mosque lavishly decorated with woodcar-
vings was close to the place for public gatherings.
During my early journeys in 1955 and 1958, intact village-fortresses
still existed in several valleys. Most of them have been at least
partially destroyed in the meantime. One of them, however, sys-
tematically documented with excellent ground plans made by an
experienced architect will be published in one of the volumes of
our series "Antiquities of Northern Pakistan". A map of the ruins
of an earlier settlement, still visible close to the documented
village fortress, will be included in this study.
All historical information available will be used for interpretation.
I hope the result will be a supplement to this article, widening the
view beyond the information gained so far.
113
ranges against direct aggressions from the southern plains. Many
invaders lost their fervour in the cluster of narrow valleys without
tracks, but with a dense and hostile population.
Futile as well as successful inroads were followed by peaceful
contacts with the neighbours in the lowlands and induced religious
and socio-economic innovations. Foreigners were integrated and
held in dominant or obediant positions. Many migrations are evi-
dent; the intrusion of a pastoral population spreading the Shina
language, the infiltration of "menial castes" necessary for the
production of better arms, Sunnitic saints spread Islam and intro-
duced the wesh-system which enforces a periodical redistribution
of the land among all members of the community.
The spreading of men and ideas was a lengthy and difficult pro-
cess at times, with many setbacks. The earlier migration waves
reached Gilgit before the rise of Trakhané. Islam, however, was
introduced to Gilgit by missionary activities starting from Badakh-
shan and Eastern Turkestan. The believers of the new faith, split
into several rival sects, did not become predominant until the 17^
century AD.
At present, the best approach to a chronological charter of migra-
tion is the analysis of the settlement patterns. The goatbreeding
immigrants from the south (Pakli?) preferred strongholds on the
top of mountains, integrated into a network of temporary habita-
tions.
The population who had embraced Islam was ordered to construct
village-fortresses. The mosque lavishly decorated with woodcar-
vings was close to the place for public gatherings.
During my early journeys in 1955 and 1958, intact village-fortresses
still existed in several valleys. Most of them have been at least
partially destroyed in the meantime. One of them, however, sys-
tematically documented with excellent ground plans made by an
experienced architect will be published in one of the volumes of
our series "Antiquities of Northern Pakistan". A map of the ruins
of an earlier settlement, still visible close to the documented
village fortress, will be included in this study.
All historical information available will be used for interpretation.
I hope the result will be a supplement to this article, widening the
view beyond the information gained so far.
113