Reconstructing the Past: The Medieval and Pre-Medieval Makran

Abstract

Makran, the gateway of Balochistan, is an ancient land and the only part of Balochistan that has been recorded in numerous chronicles of different times. The region has witnessed several invasions, starting with the Greeks and Persians, and continuing with the Arabs. Interestingly, it has been interpreted differently by historians of different powers. The medieval and pre-medieval Makran are highly connected in terms of discourse. Medieval writings not only sketch a wide picture of the contemporary realm but also connect it to the pre-medieval Makran in terms of socio-economic and political developments. A qualitative-based approach wasas used to analyze the literature developed on Makran in medieval and pre-medieval times. For the analysis of the extracted data, a conceptual analysis was used. The geo strategic and socio-economic realities of current Makran cannot be fully understood unless medieval and pre-medieval chronologies are critically evaluated.