<Home> <Islam> <Islamic Civilization> <The Persian Samanid State>
Features of Unity in the Civilization of the Islamic World
This ruled Khurasan and Transoxiana in the third and fourth Hijra centuries with Bukhara as its capital which was one of the most important centres of civilization in the Islamic world. In addition it contained Samarkand and Balch where students used to come to study sciences. The Samanid state became known for its war against atheist Turks in central Asia and for forcing them to enlist into its armies through an Islamic educational military system that was applied at an early age. The Seljuk Minister Nizam al Mulk Al Tusi (d. 485 A.D.) gives a very accurate picture of this system in his book "Seyasa Nameh". The mamluk cannot become an Amir or a governor of an estate or a commander of a military division unless he is mature i.e. 35 years of age. The training period of the mamluk extends for seven years after which he is awarded the title of the "Horse Corporal"; he wears a silk robe and puts on a hat of black silk. His promotion goes on year after year.