Page "Turkestan" Paragraph 4

Known as Turan to Iranians, western Turkestan has also been known historically as Sogdiana, Ma wara ' u ' n-nahr ( by its Arab conquerors ), and Transoxiana by Western travellers.

The latter two names refer to its position beyond the River Oxus when approached from the south, emphasizing Turkestan's long-standing relationship with Iran, the Persian Empires and the Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphates.