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

CHAPTER 1 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
The analysis of Bukharan Emirate and the evolution from a medieval state to 
a national republic during the subjugation years under the Tsarist rule and the early 
years of the Soviet Union was significant to understand the creation, the nation 
building and the state building process of modern Uzbekistan state. Uzbekistan was 
more important than other Central Asian states owing to its position’s being more 
strategic rather than others. The best reason behind its importance was that 
Uzbekistan had superiority of being the most populous state among others with its 
population of estimated almost 29 million. In addition, Uzbekistan’s history and 
culture was deeper than others because of Uzbek ancestor states such as Bukhara 
Khanate, Bukhara Emirate, Khivan Khanate, Kokand Khanate, Shaibani Khanate, 
Timurid Emirate etc. These Uzbek dynasties had ruled Central Asia at once upon a 
time, therefore it was clear that the Uzbek and their predecessors’ influence, in spite 
of a mixture of Tajik and Uzbek influence, was rather influential upon other 
communities in the region. Also, Uzbeks and Tajiks lived together and so it was very 
difficult to distinct one from other. They both were sedentary societies thus they 
were stronger and developed societies rather than other Steppe communities. 

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Being a sedentary society enabled to leave more strong influence on the region. In 
addition, Uzbekistan as a successor state of Bukharan Emirate in the region was 
located upon the most important and strategic parts of Central Asia such as Fergana 
Valley and Transoxiana( Bukhara and Samarkand), Sri Darya , Amu Darya and 
Tashkent. Especially Fergana Valley was the cotton stock of all Central Asia.
At present, Uzbekistan has one of the best economies in the region with its 
natural gas resources. A probable development in Uzbekistan had bigger potential to 
cause impact upon other Central Asian states. For example, in recent years, the 
increasing threat of radical Islamist groups and terrorism in the region either arising 
from Afghanistan and pouring into Central Asian states such as Tajikistan and 
Uzbekistan or some Islamic trends such as Wahhabism backed by Saudi Arabia 
influenced the Central Asian states. Especially Uzbekistan was far more uneasy 
about dissident groups inside or neighboring outside, because it was a reality of a 
religious tradition and auld history dated back to long before. For that reason, it is 
important to analyze the Emirate of Bukhara and socio-ethnic, socio-cultural, socio-
religious structure of the ancient state in order to learn the madrasah oriented state, 
the importance of clerical class in Bukhara, the role of madrasahs, mullahs and 
madrasah students inside the formation and administrative system of the state. 
Without understanding this, it is far difficult to analyze the potential threat of radical 
Islamic groups and their spreading impact inside the Uzbek population in some parts 
of the country. It is so clear that the country still carries the remnants and effects of 
the past and this feature now shapes the current situation and reflects the effects of 
the past over the present-day society. Therefore, it is significant to review and 
analyze the history of Bukharan society and state, the evolution and transformation 

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process of the state and society in order to evaluate both the background and the 
present developments in Uzbekistan and all Central Asia.