The chance discovery of 20,000 Sogdian-era documents in a ruined fortress near Samarkand, Uzbekistan, has illuminated the lost history of Panjakent, a once-thriving Silk Road city. These texts, written on wood and leather, detail daily life, governance, and trade in the 7th and 8th centuries before the Arab conquest. This archival treasure trove has rewritten the understanding of Panjakent’s significance as a major Sogdian cultural and commercial center, effectively putting this forgotten city back on the historical map and providing invaluable insight into a pivotal period along the Silk Road.
Ross Ulbricht, founder of the Silk Road online marketplace, has received a full presidential pardon, commuting his double life sentence plus 40 years without parole. The pardon, granted by President Biden, effectively ends his imprisonment and restores certain rights lost due to his conviction. Ulbricht had served over a decade in prison following his 2015 conviction on charges related to money laundering, computer hacking, and conspiracy to traffic narcotics through the Silk Road platform.
Hacker News users reacted to Ross Ulbricht's pardon with mixed feelings. Some celebrated the commutation as a victory against excessive sentencing for non-violent drug offenses, arguing that Ulbricht's sentence was disproportionate to his crime. Others expressed concern over the precedent set by pardoning someone who facilitated illegal activities, emphasizing the harm caused by the Silk Road marketplace. Several commenters debated the nature of Ulbricht's crime, with some arguing he was merely providing a platform and others emphasizing his active role in enabling illegal transactions. The discussion also touched upon the complexities of the dark web, the role of government in regulating online spaces, and the ethical implications of Silk Road. A few users expressed skepticism about the timing and motivations behind the pardon.
Summary of Comments ( 11 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42858187
Hacker News users discussed the BBC article about the Silk Road city of Tashkent, primarily focusing on its history and strategic importance. Several commenters highlighted the city's significance as a crossroads of cultures and trade routes, with one emphasizing its role as a meeting point between the East and West. The discussion also touched on the Uyghur population and their historical connection to the region, including their forced migration and cultural influence. Some users expressed their personal experiences traveling or living near the Silk Road, offering firsthand perspectives on the region's cultural richness and complexity. Finally, there was some debate about the article's portrayal of Tashkent's rediscovery, with one commenter arguing that the city was never truly "lost," but rather its significance was overshadowed by other historical narratives.
The Hacker News post titled "The ancient discovery that put a Silk Road city back on the map" (linking to a BBC article about the rediscovery of the Silk Road city of Rakhigarhi) generated a modest discussion thread. Several commenters focused on the challenges and complexities of archaeological interpretation.
One commenter highlighted the ongoing debate about the nature of the Indus Valley Civilization, particularly regarding its political organization. They pointed out that while the BBC article uses terms like "empire" and "city," the actual political structures might have been quite different from what modern readers associate with those terms. The lack of evidence for palaces or obvious central authority figures makes it difficult to definitively categorize their political system.
Another commenter expanded on this theme by drawing parallels with the Minoan civilization, suggesting that trade and shared cultural practices could have connected disparate settlements without the need for a centralized, hierarchical political entity. This commenter also referenced the work of Jane Jacobs, whose theories of urban development emphasize bottom-up organization and organic growth, implying a similar decentralized structure for ancient cities.
One comment thread questioned the characterization of Rakhigarhi as having been "lost," arguing that local inhabitants were likely aware of the site's historical significance even if its broader importance was unknown to the outside world. This perspective emphasizes the distinction between archaeological "discovery" and continuous local knowledge.
Additionally, a commenter with expertise in ancient Indian history provided contextual information about the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization, mentioning climate change, the drying of the Ghaggar-Hakra river system, and potential migrations eastward as contributing factors.
Finally, a few comments simply shared personal anecdotes about their fascination with the Silk Road and the history of the region, indicating a general interest in the topic.
In summary, the comments section offered some interesting perspectives on archaeological interpretation, challenging simplistic narratives and emphasizing the complexity of reconstructing the past. The discussion remained focused and avoided any significant digressions or controversies.