THE HISTORICAL CONDITION OF SETTLEMENTS IN THE GUZOR BEKLIK AT THE END OF THE 19TH – BEGINNING OF THE 20TH CENTURY

Аннотация

This topic focuses on the historical condition of settlements in the territory of Guzor Beklik during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It analyzes the formation of towns and villages within the Beklik, their administrative-territorial structure, population size, daily life, economic activity, transportation routes, and market infrastructure. Based on historical sources and archival documents, the study explores the socio-economic significance of these settlements, forms of local governance, and cultural life. This research provides a crucial scientific foundation for the study of the historical geography and development of the Guzor Beklik's settlement system. Keywords: Guzor Beklik, settlements, historical geography, urban planning, agriculture, demography, late 19th century, early 20th century, administrative-territorial structure, society, economiclife, lifestyle. Introduction. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Guzor Beklik (or province) existed as a distinct administrative-territorial unit within the Bukhara Emirate, encompassing the southwestern part of the Kashkadarya oasis. During this period—particularly the second half of the 19th century and the early years of the 20th century—the Kashkadarya region consisted of administrative units referred to as “beklik” or “viloyat,” including Qarshi, Chiroqchi, Khuzor (Guzor), Yakkabogʻ,Shahrisabz, and Kitob. These units, similar to other regions of the Emirate, contained numerous smaller administrative divisions known as “amlok” (estate, property), each comprising dozens or even hundreds of villages. It is important to note that during this era, the Bukhara Emirate was administratively divided into 27 bekliks, including Karmana, Khatirchi, Ziyovuddin, Nurata, Qarshi, Kitob, Shahrisabz, Chiroqchi, Yakkabogʻ, Khuzor (Guzor), Boysun, Sherobod, Denov, Karki, Chorjuy, Hisor, Kulob, Qorategin, Darvoz, Baljuvon, Shughnon-Rushon, Qorqontepa, Qobadiyon, Kalif, Bòrdaliq, and Qobogli.Each beklik was governed by a bek, appointed by the emir himself. The bekliks were divided into amlokliks, which were administered by amlokdors, also appointed by thebeks1. Territorially, the Guzor Beklik included not only the present-day Guzor district but also encompassed the current Dehqonobod district and part of the Qamashi district, specifically the villages adjacent to Guzor. It bordered Qarshi Beklik in the northwest, Yakkabogʻ Beklik in the northeast, Boysun and Sherobod Bekliks in the south, and Karki Beklik in the southwest. Additionally, the population of Guzor Beklik maintained relatively close economic and cultural ties with neighboring territories such as Chiroqchi in the north, Shahrisabz in the northeast, Burdaliqin thewest, Kalif(Kelif) in thesouthwest, and Denov inthesoutheast. The administrative center of Khuzor (Guzor) Beklik was the city of Guzor. The beklik included several amlokliks, namely: Afghonbogʻ,Eskibogʻ,Yorti-tepa, Oʻrayi-kalon, Karsang, Garmiston, 1 Материалы по районированию Средней Азии. Кн.1: Территория и населения Бухары и Хорезма. Часть 1: Бухара.–Т.:Туркпечать,1926.–С.63-64. 198 Volume 4, issue 6, 2025 Qamay, Beliboyli, and Gurshak. A significant portion of these amlokliks were situated in the southern and southwestern parts of the Kashkadarya oasis, adjacent to the Surkhandarya oasis across mountainous terrain. Compared to other regions of the Kashkadarya oasis, Guzor Beklik was divided into fewer amlokliks. Among them, Garmiston included a part of the villages located northwest of Guzor city; Afghonbogʻ encompassed villages to the north of Guzor; and Beliboyli included several villages located in thesoutheastern part ofthebeklik2. Of the nine amlokliks in Guzor Beklik, some are rooted in Turkic (Uzbek) languages, while others are based on Iranian (Sogdian, Tajik) linguistic origins. Among the amlokliks of Guzor, the names Yortitepa, Qamay, and Beli-boyli are of Turkic origin; Eskibogʻ and Oʻra-i Kalon reflect a blend of Turkic and Persian; while Gurshak and Garmiston derive from Iranian (Sogdian, Persian-Tajik) terms. The name of Afghonbogʻ amloklik may possibly be associated with Afghan merchants who were active in trade in the city of Guzor. Such naming of the Guzor amlokliks is clearly connected to the socio-cultural and ethnic context of the period. The region was primarily inhabited byUzbeks and Tajiks, with someArab communities as well. Most of these amlokliks included dozens of villages, many of which were linked to various Uzbek tribes such as the Qovchin, Qongirot, Saroy, and Batosh. In addition, the city of Guzor and its surroundings were home to Uzbek populations who did not associate themselves with any specific tribal affiliation; they were mainly engaged in agriculture, gardening, trade, and craftsmanship.Tajiks were represented by Persian-speaking artisans and merchants living in Guzor city and by a highland ethnic group known as the “Harduri” residing in the southern mountainous parts of the beklik. Moreover, in th