Battle of Talas

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/battle-of-talas

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the date of engagement?July 751 AD
2. What is the geographic setting?Talas River region, Central Asia
3. Why did the Tang and Abbasid empires fight?Both wanted control of the Silk Road trade routes and the rich oasis cities in Central Asia.
4. Who were the Karluk mercenaries and what did they do?They were soldiers who switched sides during the battle and helped the Abbasids win by weakening the Tang army.

Abbasid Caliphate: A major Islamic empire that succeeded the Umayyads, ruling from Baghdad and influencing vast territories.
Tang Dynasty: A powerful and cosmopolitan Chinese dynasty (618-907 AD) known for its cultural achievements and territorial expansion.
Transoxiana: A historical region of Central Asia located between the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers, a crucial nexus of trade and culture.
Karluk: A confederation of Turkic tribes who inhabited parts of Central Asia and played a significant role in regional conflicts.