Western Göktürks

State · 587–660 CE · at its largest around 629 CE

Turkic horsemen who protected and taxed the Silk Road oases of Sogdiana, trading horses and silk with Byzantium, Persia and China. The Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang visited their khagan's splendid court of silk tents near Lake Issyk-Kul.

On its lands while it lasted

Uplistsikhe (2,001 BCE – 740 CE): Capital of Principality of Iberia (682–740).
Sogdians (c. 500 BCE – c. 900 CE): Iranian people of the Zeravshan valley around Samarkand and Bukhara whose merchants dominated trade along the Silk Roads, especially between the 4th and 8th centuries.
Silk Road (c. 130 BCE – c. 1450 CE): A network of overland caravan routes linking China with Central Asia, Persia and the Mediterranean, along which silk, spices, horses, religions, technologies and diseases travelled for more than 1,500 years.
Suyab (c. 555–749 CE): Capital of Göktürk Khaganate (555–586), Türgesh (704–749).
Paytakaran (c. 638 CE): Capital of Balasagan (638–646).
Sari (c. 644 CE): Capital of Dabuyid Dynasty (644–756).
Fuman (c. 644 CE): Capital of Dabuyid Dynasty (644–756).