希腊-巴克特里亚时期的瓦罕城堡与丝绸之路

Wakhan Fortresses and the Silk Road in Greek-Baktrian Period

瓦罕通道,或"大佛教之路",位于阿姆河上游的喷赤河畔,在阿拉伯人征服之前,它是一条穿越西帕米尔地区的主干道。作为穿越亚洲之路(The transasiatic route)的重要节点,它以其扮演的文化和历史角色而著称于世。沿着这条道路,旅行者向北可至中国西部,向南可达阿富汗和印度。一连串的城堡曾出现于现今塔吉克斯坦境内的喷赤河北岸上。这些城堡,诸如卡哈卡一号(Kaakhka Ⅰ)与雅穆春一号(Yamchun Ⅰ)之类,建于希腊—巴克特里亚王国时期,担负着抵御南迁的游牧民族的重任。虽然希腊—巴克特里亚王国曾经通过征服或者联盟的方式,一度保持了对这一地区的控制,但这一地区的大部分城堡似乎都在贵霜时期重修或新建,其目的不仅是防止可能来自游牧的塞人的侵扰,亦用来对抗更为强大的汉帝国。与此同时,它们在客观上也保证了丝绸之路的通行。

The Wakhan Highway,or Great Buddhist Road,situated along the Pianj on the upper reaches of the Amudaria,was one of the main roads that ran through the western Pamir until the Arab conquest. It stands out for the cultural and historical role it played as a crucial link in the transasiatic route allowing travelers to pass through western China in the north and Afghanistan and India in the south. A series of fortresses line the bank of the northern bank of the Pianj in modern Tajikistan fortresses,like Kaakhka Ⅰ and Yamchun Ⅰ,dating back to the Greek Baktrian Period served as bulwarks against nomadic tribes migrating southward. While the region remained part of the Greek Baktrian Kingdom either by conquest or by alliance,most of these castles appear to have been renovated or constructed by the Kushans,not only against the possible encroachment of the nomadic Sakai,but also against a more powerful foe,the Han Empire. Meanwhile,they objectively also ensured the passing through of the Silk Road.