Between Buddhist Moonlight and Islamic Dawn: Religious Transformation as Palimpsest in Hunza
Part II: From the Waning Buddhist Moonlight to the Dawn of Islam: The Process of Religious Change in Hunza Author's Note (Regarding Sources) This study draws upon a diverse range of sources, including archaeological evidence, colonial-era records, local historical chronicles, oral traditions, and contemporary scholarship. For the reader's awareness, it is essential to acknowledge that historical records from the pre-modern era, particularly concerning the initial introduction of Ismailism, rely heavily upon oral traditions that were committed to writing centuries after the events they describe. The absence of contemporary documentation from the fourteenth century means that scholarly interpretations vary concerning certain aspects of this narrative. Wherever possible, this study distinguishes between established historical facts and contested scholarly interpretations. The author acknowledges these limitations and presents this analysis as a synthesis of available evidence rath...