“Jami al-Tawarikh”

This folio comes from the famous historical compendium Jāmiʿ al-tawārīkh, written in the early 14th century by the statesman and scholar Rashid al-Din.
The work is considered one of the earliest attempts at writing a universal history. It includes accounts of peoples from China and India to the Middle East and Europe. The rulers of Mawarannahr, including the Samanids, occupy an important place as representatives of Islamic statehood in Central Asia.
The miniature depicts the enthronement of Mansur I ibn Nuh. The composition emphasizes the concept of legitimate authority, with the ruler seated centrally and surrounded by courtiers, reflecting ideals of hierarchical governance.
The treatment of garments and figures shows Chinese artistic influence, while the colors and ornamental approach remain rooted in Persian manuscript tradition.
The naskh script text frames the miniature, integrating narrative and image into a unified intellectual composition.
This manuscript page demonstrates how the historical memory of Central Asia became part of a broader intellectual and artistic tradition of the medieval Islamic world.