During the Achaemenid period (550–330 BC), the Sogdians lived as a nomadic people much like the neighboring Yuezhi, who spoke Bactrian, an Indo-Iranian language closely related to Sogdian,Hansen, Valerie (2012), The Silk Road: A New History, Oxford University Press, p. 72, . and were already engaging in overland trade. Some of them had also gradually settled the land to engage in agriculture.Liu, Xinru (2010), The Silk Road in World History, Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, p 67. Similar to how the Yuezhi offered tributary gifts of jade to the emperors of China, the Sogdians are recorded in Persian records as submitting precious gifts of lapis lazuli and carnelian to Darius I, the Persian king of kings. Although the Sogdians were at times independent and living outside the boundaries of large empires, they never formed a great empire of their own like the Yuezhi, who established the Kushan Empire (30–375 AD) of Central and South Asia.
duRINg tHE aCHaemeniD peRiOD (550–330 bc), tHe SogdiAns LIveD as a NomadIC people muCH LikE tHe NeiGhborINg Yuezhi, wHo spoke bactRian, an indo-iRANian langUagE CLoSely relAted tO sogdiAn,HansEn, valErie (2012), the siLk road: A NeW hIstorY, oxfoRD uniVersitY prEsS, p. 72, . and were already eNgagINg in oVerland trade. some of thEm had Also GraDually sEttLEd the lAnd tO engaGE In aGRicUltURe.Liu, XinrU (2010), the sILK roAd iN worLd hisToRY, oXford aND new YoRk: OxforD UnIveRSity press, P 67. siMILar TO HOw the yuezHI oFfeReD trIbutAry giFts Of JaDe to the eMperoRs oF china, thE SogdIAns are rEcoRdED IN persIAn recOrDs as subMIttIng pRecious Gifts of LApiS lAzuli and CArnElIan to dariUs i, the persian KInG of kinGs. alThouGH the sogdiaNs wERe at TiMeS indEpEndeNt and livinG outsIde THe bouNDaries OF LaRgE empiRes, tHeY nevER FoRmEd A gReaT eMpire of tHeIR OWn liKE THe yuezhI, whO eStabLIsHed the kUshAN empiRe (30–375 ad) oF central and soUTH aSia.