Battle of Talas
751 CE · Central Asia
The Battle of Talas was fought in 751 CE in Central Asia between Abbasid Caliphate and Tibetan allies vs Tang China and Karluk mercenaries; Abbasid victory; the end of Tang expansion into Central Asia.
Battle of Talas: quick facts
- Date
- 751 CE
- Location
- Central Asia
- Belligerents
- Abbasid Caliphate and Tibetan allies vs Tang China and Karluk mercenaries
- Commanders
- Ziyad ibn Salih vs Gao Xianzhi
- Result
- Abbasid victory; the end of Tang expansion into Central Asia.
- Era
- ⚔️ Ottoman & Islamic Empires
- Quiz difficulty
- hard
What happened at the Battle of Talas?
An Abbasid Arab army allied with Turkic Karluk warriors defeated a Tang Dynasty Chinese expeditionary force in the Talas River valley of Central Asia. The battle marked the westernmost extent of Chinese influence and secured Islamic dominance over Central Asia. Captured Chinese prisoners reportedly introduced papermaking technology to the Islamic world, revolutionizing communication and scholarship across the Middle East and eventually Europe.
Did you know?
Chinese prisoners captured at Talas reportedly taught their captors the secrets of papermaking, which then spread westward through the Islamic world and eventually to Europe, revolutionizing civilization.
Sources and further reading
- Battle of Talas on Wikipedia for the full account, historiography and primary sources.
- How BattleGuess compiles and checks battle facts: see the About page.
Entry last reviewed 26 September 2026.