839–841: Disastrous Years that Reshaped the Political Map of Central Asia

Abstract

In the mid-ninth century, the Central Asian political map experienced tremendous changes. Both external military invasions and internal conflicts brought up challenges to the three great powers of the time, namely the Tang, Tibetan and Uighur empires. Concurrently, the entire region experienced the significant consequences of severe climate change and environmental distress. Near the mid-ninth century, a series of natural disasters hit the eastern part of the Asian continent, verified by both Chinese and Tibetan sources. Nevertheless, the years between 839 and 841 were the deadliest on record, a turning point for the political landscape of Central Asia. First, the Uighur empire collapsed due to attacks by Kyrgyz tribes, and the Uighurs scattered to the Hexi Corridor and Western Regions. Second, the Tibetan empire disintegrated and withdrew from the Hexi Corridor, eventually losing its control over Central Asia. Third, the Tang empire retook the Hexi Corridor and no longer faced the combined threats by the Uighur and Tibetan empires in Central Asia. These changes should be attributed to different responses and coping methods by the three principal powers in Central Asia in handling the natural disasters they faced, based on their different economic systems.