Folio from the manuscript “Jami al-Tawarikh”

This miniature comes from the renowned historical compendium Jamiʿ al-Tawarikh, compiled under the direction of Rashid al-Din, a scholar and statesman of Ilkhanid Iran. It depicts a battle between Yusuf Qadir Khan and Mahmud of Ghazni, reflecting the political tensions of Central Asia and Khurasan.
The composition is carefully structured. Cavalry, banners, armor, and even war elephants are rendered with clarity and balance. The scene emphasizes order and hierarchy rather than chaos. Through controlled gestures and organized space, the artist presents the battle as a legible historical event.
The manuscript was produced in Tabriz in 1307. Although the events shown belong to an earlier period, they were recorded and illustrated during the Ilkhanid era, when large historical compilations sought to organize the past into a coherent narrative of world history.
Displayed in the exhibition complex “Ghaznavids – Karakhanids,” this folio shows how political and military history was conveyed not only through writing, but also through images. Here, history is made visible — structured, interpreted, and preserved for future generations.