A video narrating the life of the last khan of the Kazakh Khanate, in which the Kyrgyz are portrayed as treacherous and collaborationists, has ruffled some feathers in the Kyrgyz government. Even…
Category: History
Ulugh Beg: a short biography of the astronomer-sultan of Samarkand
A grandson of the feared Amir Timur, a patron of science, a reputed astronomer, and the ruler of the fabled Samarkand. Ulugh Beg is one of Central Asia’s most fascinating characters whose…
The hidden treasures of Turkmenistan (part III)
As we explored in The hidden treasures of Turkmenistan (part I) and The hidden treasures of Turkmenistan (part II), the Central Asian country has a rich heritage worth exploring and reading about. In…
The hidden treasures of Turkmenistan (part II)
As we explored in The hidden treasures of Turkmenistan (part I), the Central Asian country has a rich heritage largely unknown to the great public. In this second part we will explore…
The Khorezmian Empire: collapse and resistance (part II)
This is a continuation of “The Khorezmian Empire: from slaves to Khorezmshahs (part I)” The Mongol conquest The Kara-Khitan Empire, immersed in disarray during its final years, ceased to exist in 1218…
The Khorezmian Empire: from slaves to Khorezmshahs (part I)
The Khorezmian Empire of the Anushteginids is mostly remembered as one of Genghis Khan’s foes. However, this dynasty of Turkoman stock became the regional power of its day. Emerging from the fringes…
Coming to terms with history in Uzbekistan
The rehabilitation of over a hundred people that were repressed by the Soviets during the 1920s and 1930s is the latest episode of Uzbekistan’s historical revision. An important initiative sponsored by the…
Nader Shah’s conquest of Central Asia: the fall of Bukhara and Khiva
The 18th century saw the advent of a military genius who emerged from the ruins of Safavid Persia to conquer an empire that extended from the Caucasus to the Indus. Of Turcoman…
The tragic fate of the last Khan of Khiva
From puppet khan in his native Khiva to poverty and hunger in Ukraine, the life of Sayid Abdullah, the last ruler of the khanate, is a dramatic story mostly unknown even by…
The Great Seljuks, rulers of the East and West (part II)
This is a continuation of “The Great Seljuks, rulers of the East and West (part I)” The West: the rule of the amirs The death of Malikshah was followed by the customary…
The Great Seljuks, rulers of the East and West (part I)
Descending from the steppes, the Seljuks conquered a large empire that stretched from the Mediterranean to the heart of Eastern Turkestan. Despite their nomad origin, they adopted the Perso-Islamic traditions of those…
Uzbekistan’s historical heritage still at risk
News of damage caused to historical structures in Uzbekistan continue to emerge. Despite the central authority’s effort to protect its heritage, destruction and demolition of historical buildings continues to take place in…
The hidden treasures of Turkmenistan (part I)
At the crossroads of the Silk Road, Turkmenistan has a rich historical heritage that is greatly unknown to the general public. The country’s isolationist policies and the limited number of tourists it…
The Shaybanids, Central Asia’s last great dynasty
Timur, or Tamerlane as he is also known, has monopolised a large part of Central Asian history, overshadowing other fascinating characters and periods that shaped the region. His historical significance, coupled with…