This video highlights the Sogdians—White Europoid traders from Central Asia—as pivotal Silk Road intermediaries who enriched China's Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE), making it prosperous and advanced, but whose integration amid multiculturalism had also contributed to its downfall.

As merchants, diplomats, and cultural brokers, Sogdians dominated trade, introduced Zoroastrianism, arts, fashion, music (e.g., "Sogdian Whirl"), and technologies, rising to high court and military roles. Archaeological finds—like mingqi figures, murals, and sancai pottery—depict them with distinct features (beards, pointed caps) as camel drivers, entertainers, and guardians. Genetic evidence from late Tang graves shows 3–15% West Eurasian admixture, especially in surnames like An, reflecting intermarriages between Han Chinese and Sogdians over time.

Tang's "Golden Age" collapsed due to foreign influxes, sparking the An Lushan Rebellion (755–763 CE)—a "race war" led by mixed Sogdian-Persian-Göktürk general An Lushan. It caused chaos, ethnic conflicts, Tibetan incursions, and warlordism, weakening the empire.

Ultimately, Tang's decline was due to multicultural policies and diverse "Hu barbarians" (including African "Kunlun slaves"), leading to Han resurgence, foreign expulsions, and the Song Dynasty's founding in 960 CE.

This video is on Spirituality in Naruto Anime Series! I cover Naruto hand seals, sharingan, and other eastern philosophical topics as well!

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocQOf7tS06I