Samani

Samani, commonly anglicized as Samanid, refers to the Samanid dynasty, a Persianate Iranian state that ruled parts of Greater Khorasan and Transoxiana from the early 9th century to the end of the 10th century. The dynasty traces its origins to the Samanid family, an Iranian noble house that rose to prominence in the region and established its capital at Bukhara, with significant authority also centered in Samarkand. Under nominal Abbasid suzerainty, the Samanids governed as effectively independent rulers, expanding and securing a broad territory that covered portions of modern Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan.

The Samanids are noted for fostering a revival of Persian language and culture in administration and culture, at a time when Arabic predominated in the region. They patronized literature and scholarship, contributing to what is often regarded as the early revival of Persian literary and courtly culture. Prominent poets and scholars associated with their milieu helped lay the foundations for a Persianate cultural sphere that influenced later dynasties across Central Asia and Iran.

Their decline began in the late 10th century amid internal fragmentation and pressure from external powers, particularly the Ghaznavids and Turkic groups. By the end of the century, Samanid authority had largely dissipated, and its territories were absorbed into neighboring polities. Despite this, the Samanids are remembered for their role in preserving and promoting Persian language and identity, and for their contribution to a cultural renaissance that shaped the developmental path of the broader Persian-speaking world.

For clarification, the term Samani may also appear in modern contexts as a surname or place name in various regions.