KHANATE OF KOKAND Meaning and
Definition
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The Khanate of Kokand refers to a historical state that existed in Central Asia during the 18th and 19th centuries. It was an Islamic monarchy and one of three major states known as the "Three Great Uzbek Khanates" alongside the Khanates of Khiva and Bukhara.
The Khanate of Kokand encompassed a vast territory centered around the city of Kokand, located in present-day Uzbekistan. It extended from the Fergana Valley to portions of modern-day Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Kokand itself served as the capital and political center of the khanate.
The ruling dynasty of the Khanate of Kokand was the Manghit dynasty, which originated from the Dzungar Khanate. The khanate had a complex administrative structure governed by the khan, who held absolute power and ruled with the assistance of a divan (council).
The economy of the Khanate of Kokand relied heavily on agriculture, particularly the cultivation of cotton and grain. It also benefited from trade along the Silk Road, serving as an important regional hub for commerce and cultural exchange.
The khanate was occasionally engaged in conflicts with neighboring powers, including the Russian Empire, the Emirate of Bukhara, and the Dzungar Khanate. It eventually fell under Russian control in the late 19th century, leading to the incorporation of the region into the Russian Empire. Today, the remnants of the Khanate of Kokand can be seen in the architectural heritage and cultural traditions of the Fergana Valley.
