ABSTRACT
The lack of any central government in Khurasan and Mararannahr, the domination of the aristocratic landlord class, called the dihqans, and the rivalry of regional lords enabled the Arabs to conquer these regions, one city at a time. Soghdian traders working across extensive networks brought greater prosperity, which encouraged the development of handicrafts and artistic culture. For many decades, Arab armies engaged in destructive raids to impose submission and extract tribute in silver, cloth, and slaves. The people of Khurasan and Mavarannahr repeatedly tried to throw off Arab rule in numerous rebellions, disturbances, and insurgencies, sometimes with the aid of Turkish tribes to the north. Increasing Arab tribal strife and oppression under the latter Umayyad caliphs created the conditions in which a clandestine, insurgent Hashimite movement became powerful. A lower-class Persian called Abu Muslim developed the revolutionary movement that generated a military force to bring the Abbasid family to power as caliphs. The Abbasids felt threatened by Abu Muslim and had him killed. This led to a series of rebellions. During these revolts, an intelligent, charismatic commander in the military under Abu Muslim named Hashim ibn Hakim paid close attention and drew operational lessons from these movements.
