The significance of the works of Arab travelers and historians in the study of the history of Uzbekistan

Abstract

This article analyzes the role and scholarly significance of the works of Arab travelers, geographers, and historians as historical sources for studying the history of Uzbekistan and, more broadly, Transoxiana. As Transoxiana became actively integrated into the Islamic world during the 8th–12th centuries, numerous geographical, historical, political, and economic accounts of the region emerged in Arabic. The works of such authors as Al-Khwarizmi, Al-Ya'qubi, Ibn Khurdadhbih, Al-Istakhri, Ibn Hawqal, Al-Muqaddasi, Al-Mas'udi, Al-Balkhi, Al-Tabari, Narshakhi, and Al-Biruni constitute important sources for reconstructing the political, economic, and socio-cultural life of Bukhara, Samarkand, Khorezm, Fergana, Shash, Termez, and other historical regions. The article examines information from Arabic sources concerning the geography of cities, trade routes, crafts, monetary circulation, taxation systems, ethnic composition, religious processes, and state administration. It also substantiates the need for a critical study of these sources and their comparison with local Persian, Turkic, Chinese, and other written sources.