DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36956#0027
dhist centre famous for a huge Maitreya statue. The Sogdians were not
Buddhists themselves, but they had common interests, namely to avoid
the territories which were ruled by Kushano-Sasanians, where Zoro-
astrism became the dominant religion. The direct way, therefore, was
preferred, in spite of the dangerous and wearying tracks. This political
situation was clearly recognised by Harmatta (1979). Brahmi, with a late
phase known as proto-Sarada, remained the dominant script.
For a while, m the area west of the Tibetan empire, the Hephthalites
became the dominant population, integrating Turkish tribes separate
from those who had founded the most extensive empire in the Central
Asian steppes. The Khalaj are mentioned for the first time. Here the
Bactrian script, derived from the Greek cursive, was preserved even
after the Arab conquest.
In the Eastern Hindukush and Karakorum, the population became
illiterate. Tibetan inscriptions are very rare. This statement is not dis-
proved by the so-called GWgh AfunMS'cnpts', which were brought by the
last Patola-Shahi when he, expelled Tom Skardu, found refuge in Little
Palur. They were deposited m a hollow stupa as precious concealed
books, according to the Tibetan custom, unreadable but essential for the
welfare of the country.
Concerning the earliest stratum discovered during the restoration of the
castle of Baltit, we cannot identify the ethnic affiliation of the builders.
They might have been Burushos under a Turkish dynasty. Later, they
were joined by Shma-speakers who left a large layer of loan-words.
11
Buddhists themselves, but they had common interests, namely to avoid
the territories which were ruled by Kushano-Sasanians, where Zoro-
astrism became the dominant religion. The direct way, therefore, was
preferred, in spite of the dangerous and wearying tracks. This political
situation was clearly recognised by Harmatta (1979). Brahmi, with a late
phase known as proto-Sarada, remained the dominant script.
For a while, m the area west of the Tibetan empire, the Hephthalites
became the dominant population, integrating Turkish tribes separate
from those who had founded the most extensive empire in the Central
Asian steppes. The Khalaj are mentioned for the first time. Here the
Bactrian script, derived from the Greek cursive, was preserved even
after the Arab conquest.
In the Eastern Hindukush and Karakorum, the population became
illiterate. Tibetan inscriptions are very rare. This statement is not dis-
proved by the so-called GWgh AfunMS'cnpts', which were brought by the
last Patola-Shahi when he, expelled Tom Skardu, found refuge in Little
Palur. They were deposited m a hollow stupa as precious concealed
books, according to the Tibetan custom, unreadable but essential for the
welfare of the country.
Concerning the earliest stratum discovered during the restoration of the
castle of Baltit, we cannot identify the ethnic affiliation of the builders.
They might have been Burushos under a Turkish dynasty. Later, they
were joined by Shma-speakers who left a large layer of loan-words.
11