แนวรบตะวันออก: มุสลิมพิชิตคูรอซานและทรานซอกเซียนา (เอเชียกลางและอัฟกานิสถาน)

Muhammad Ilyas  Yahprung

Authors

Muhammad Ilyas Yahprung Faculty of Political Science, Ramkhamhaeng University, Thailand. https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0908-2036

Keywords:

Islamic Empire, Muslim army, Persia, Khorasan, Transoxiana

Abstract

Objective: 1. to examine the development of Muslim imperial expansion toward the eastern frontier; and 2. to analyze the role of Islam as a unifying force for cultural diversity in the eastern region, forging a shared religious identity among ethnically and culturally distinct peoples.

Methodology: This qualitative documentary research integrates perspectives from Islamic studies, history, and political science. Data were collected through purposive sampling of primary Arabic sources, principally the works of al-Tabari and al-Baladthuri, alongside relevant secondary literature. Analysis employed content analysis, interpretive analysis, and comparative analysis, guided by the concept of frontier governance and Toynbee's (1934) theory of social vacuum response.

Research Findings: The Islamic Empire expanded into Khurasan and Transoxiana through a combination of military campaigns and diplomatic negotiations, allowing local rulers to remain in power under Islamic suzerainty. This expansion fostered the exchange and integration of knowledge among the Persian, Byzantine, Turkic, and Chinese civilizations, laying the intellectual foundation for the Islamic Golden Age. The findings also indicate that Islam served as an integrative force, transcending cultural, ethnic, and linguistic diversity by fostering a shared religious identity and strengthening social cohesion.

Contributions: This study deepens understanding of the conceptual framework underlying the Islamic Empire's eastern expansion and highlights the role of Islam in integrating diverse ethnic, linguistic, and cultural communities through the formation of a shared religious identity. These findings provide a historical perspective on the development of social cohesion in multicultural societies.

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