Which regions did the musical routes through Turkistan connect?

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Central Asian arts Mongol shaman wearing a ritual gown and holding a drum with the image of a spirit helper, c. 1909.

Musical routes through Turkistan—a vast region extending from the Caspian Sea to the Xinjiang region of northwestern China—served as vital conduits for cultural exchange. These centuries-old caravan routes connected the Middle East with China and India.1

By traversing these paths, musical instruments and styles were diffused across diverse territories, allowing for significant cross-pollination between sedentary populations and nomadic groups. The oases of Turkistan, situated along the Silk Road, were particularly open to these musical crosscurrents, facilitating a cosmopolitan tradition that integrated influences from various civilizations.12