The great sand desert of the middle of the Dzungarian basin, grazed in winter because snow cover substitutes for water.
In 1200 it is nobody's: herders of the Qarluq, Kangli and Naiman marches use its edges, and caravans avoid it. We anchor the sands to 'peoples' so the large desert is not left to the nearest realm. Yearly range: Winter use of the northern and southern edges. Winter camp: The sand edges with snow pasture.
Who holds it
- Name
- not known: clan elders and chiefs, no single chief named in any source
- Title
- None: herders of several peoples
- Since
- not known
- Born
- not known
- Family
- not known
- Confidence
- low
The nomad peoples of the sheet are known by name from the Qara Khitai, Mongol and Persian chroniclers and from the later pastoral calendar of the same ground; no source we could open names a chief of this people for 1 January 1200.
What it holds
- Winter use of the northern and southern edges.
Allies and rivals
The neighbouring herders; the Gurkhan as overlord.
How things stand that morning
In winter camp. No raid or war recorded.
Wealth
Horses, sheep, cattle and felt; the pasture itself.
Military
Mounted archers under tribe and clan chiefs. No numbers are known.
Threats
- A hard winter or cattle plague
- Raids from neighbouring herders
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: Pure geography; the winter use of the sands is attested for later nomads.
On the map: The outline is a sketch of the seasonal range; nomad ground has no line.
Sources and studies
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.