Capitals of the Central and West Asian dynasties: facts and a 5-question quiz

Capitals of the great dynasties of Persia, Central Asia and Anatolia. This is a map-tap quiz with 5 questions, each worth more points as the questions get harder.

Play the quiz: Capitals of the Central and West Asian dynasties

What this quiz covers

Era: medieval. Region: Asia. The 5 questions are about the following, with a short fact for each. Read them first if you want a head start, or skip to the quiz and read afterwards.

Facts behind the questions (spoilers)

• Isfahan: Isfahan became a Seljuk capital in the 11th century, under Toghril and later Malik-Shah.
• Samarkand: Samarkand came under Muslim rule in the early 700s and became a key stop on the Silk Road.
• Konya: Rumi's family came from Balkh (some sources say Wakhsh) and settled in Konya under the Seljuks.
• Shiraz: Saadi wrote the Gulistan and Bustan, and Hafez the Divan.
• Zaranj: Yaqub al-Saffar rose from coppersmith and local militia leader to ruler of Sistan, then expanded into Khorasan and Fars and took Khorasan from the Tahirids in 873.

Quick answers

What should I know about Isfahan? Isfahan became a Seljuk capital in the 11th century, under Toghril and later Malik-Shah.

What should I know about Samarkand? Samarkand came under Muslim rule in the early 700s and became a key stop on the Silk Road.

What should I know about Konya? Rumi's family came from Balkh (some sources say Wakhsh) and settled in Konya under the Seljuks.

Ready to test yourself?

Play the Capitals of the Central and West Asian dynasties quiz now. Your score is based on how close your answers are, and you can share your result without spoiling the answers.

More quizzes like this

• Umayyad palaces and cities
• Abbasid capitals
• Muslim rule in southern Europe: Sicily, Italy and France