[pdevr]

The story starts with Genghis Khan's plunder of Merv and the mass murder that was ordered by him. It mentions the artisans who were kept alive. Then it swerves to the plunder of Merv by the Oghuz, continues in the next paragraph, and then returns to Genghis Khan by announcing his death.

Again, it returns to the artisans,but mid-paragraph (as is typical in that article), switches to battles again, and returns yet again to silk and artisans. At last, it connects the battles and the silk together.

This is probably why it appears very hard to read. Especially, the mid-paragraph context switches continuing to the subsequent paragraph.

Nevertheless , a fascinating read.

[zeristor]

I was reading up on Wootz steel:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wootz_steel

And found that Merv was a big producer of it.

I had not heard of the city of Merv, seemingly at one point it had ranked as the second largest in the world, and became more fascinated.

Although now just ruins, it has inspired a board game:

Merv: The Heart of the Silk Road (2020)

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/306040/merv-the-heart-of...

“Merv: The Heart of the Silk Road is a tense economic game charting the rise and fall of the greatest city in the world.

In Merv, players are vying to amass power and wealth in the prosperous heart of the Silk Road. Through careful court intrigue, timely donations to the grand mosque, and favorable trade deals, players attempt to redirect as much of that prosperity as possible into their own pockets.

Meanwhile, beyond the city walls Mongol hordes approach. If you help construct the city walls, you give up on precious opportunities to build up your own stature, but leave it unprotected and you will burn with the city. Every decision is weighty and the consequences of each misstep are dire. Will you rise to prominence or fade into oblivion?”

Edit: expanded details of board game reference.

[jajko]

Its a sad story, they were at the global pinnacle of science and arts, opened their gates to mongols without any resistance, only to be still slaughtered like cattle. Imagine how much additional positive influence on current world, how differently middle east region would look like, and islam itself.

Lesson to be learned which is still very relevant today - don't trust primitive barbarians to uphold any moral expectations just because it would be logical or nice, rather 'Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum'.

[kristianp]

> This is probably why it appears very hard to read.

The sentences are often too long and maze-like too. This is an extract from a book. I can't imagine trying to read a whole book written like this.