People often confuse the Qarakhanids with the Qara Khitai. Indeed, the two dynasties bore the title “Qara” (black), and ruled roughly the same territory in close chronological proximity. Moreover, from the early twelfth century and until nearly the end of their rule, the Qarakhanids were vassals of the Qara Khitai. Not less significant for the purpose of this study, both dynasties are poorly-documented and therefore have attracted relatively meager scholarly attention, a fact that adds to the..
