Connecting the Plateau: Evolving socio-economic networks across the Central Iranian Deserts during the Early Seljuq period

现代伊朗是由共同的波斯语和共同的民族认同统一起来的。然而，直到11世纪中叶，伊朗在语言和文化上都有明显的分裂，新波斯语只在伊朗中部沙漠东部占主导地位。虽然塞尔柱人在同一世纪征服了整个伊朗，可能有助于建立这种语言和文化联盟，但我们不知道伊朗是如何成为伊朗人的。该项目将通过绘制当时这些沙漠周围的社会经济网络来寻找答案，绘制语言和文化如何与其他网络交叉以建立共同身份的图表。

Modern Iran is united by a common Persian language and a shared national identity. However, up until the mid-11th century Iran was clearly divided linguistically and culturally with New Persian only dominant east of the Central Iranian Deserts. While the Seljuq conquest of the whole of Iran in the same century likely helped create this linguistic and cultural union, we do not know the mechanics of how Iran became Iranian. This project will seek answers by mapping the socio-economic networks at the time around these deserts, charting how language and culture intersected with other networks to build a common identity.