The bukharan emirate and turkestan under russian rule in the revolutionary era: 1917-1924

 
 
97
Ibid,91. 
98
Caroe, Olaf, Soviet Empire: 
The Turks of Central Asia and Stalinism,
(New York: St. Martin’s 
Press, 1967), 100. 
99
Ibid,102. 

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40 
2.5. Capital Penetration in Bukhara 
The capitalist penetration in Bukhara started with the construction of Trans-
Caspian railways. Introduction of railroads to Bukhara enabled Bukhara to adapt to 
Russia and the West. The railways directly changed the system of Bukhara in a 
manner of economy, society and culture. Opening of Bukharan society to the 
Western world through railways was a first attempt for unpreventable change in the 
Emirate in the following years. “The first consequence of the conquest was the 
opening of Central Asia and Bukhara to capitalist penetration, especially after the 
construction of the Trans-Caspian railway. This project, undertaken for military 
purposes, profoundly altered the economic life of Central Asia”.
100
 
The most 
benefited group in Bukhara in the construction of railways was merchants. Although 
railways benefited Russia to take the region under control more effectively and this 
situation worried the Emir; merchants were profitable because of decrease in their 
costs for carriage. “The railroad did not strip Bukhara of its central role, but 
connected the city to Moscow and to Nihny-Novgorod. And whereas the carriage of 
pud (or 16.38kg) of goods by caravan from Bukhara to Orenburg would cost a much 
as three rubles, the railway brought the cost down (carriage guaranteed and insured 
as far as Moscow) to 70 kopecks per pud, which considerably improved the situation 
of the local merchants”.
101
In addition to benefits and advantages for the inner 
merchants, it enabled Bukhara to open to the world markets. The foreign merchants 
could arrive in Bukhara for trade. The railway enabled Armenian, French and Jewish 
merchants to arrive. It was not only beneficial for Russian merchants. There were so 
many European merchants, coming to Bukhara for trade that the Emir put surtax on 
100
Carrere D’Encausse, Hèlene, trans.,Islam 
and the Russian Empire Reform and Revolution in 
Central Asia
, (London: I.B.Tauris-Co Ltd, 1966), 39. 
101
Carrere D’Encausse, Hèlene, trans., Islam 
and the Russian Empire Reform and Revolution in 
Central Asia
, (London: I.B.Tauris-Co Ltd, 1966), 40. 

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41 
karakul in 1905 in order to protect Russian and Bukharan merchants. But, Bukhara 
continued to attract karakul buyers from London, Paris, Berlin and Constantinople as 
well as Moscow
.
102
Opening of Bukhara to foreign traders provided increase in 
economic development of the country and that opening up inevitably would bring the 
enlightenment in political and social life.
 
After the spreading influence and control by Russians in the region and 
increase of capitalist penetration year by year, the number of settlers began to 
increase both in Turkistan and in Bukhara. Russians began to come to Bukhara from 
1873 on and they brought their civilization through constructing roads, railways, 
garrisons and customs posts. According to 1896 census, 12,150 Russian subjects 
were in Bukhara and there were 8000 soldiers among them. And, in the beginning of 
the Great War, the Russian population in the emirate was almost 50, 000 except 
military staff. Towards the end of the 19
th
century, Russian colonies increased more 
along the railroad and Amu Darya.
103
According to 1906 census, 5,378,000 Central 
Asians and 322, 000 Russian settlers were in Turkestan