International Journal Of History And Political Sciences
44
https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ijhps
VOLUME
Vol.05 Issue04 2025
PAGE NO.
44-47
10.37547/ijhps/Volume05Issue04-11
Policy of The Government of The General Government
of Turkistan On Church Construction in Samarkand:
Goals and Tasks
Abduvakhidov Dilshod Narbotirovich
PhD researcher, Samarkand State University, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Received:
23 February 2025;
Accepted:
19 March 2025;
Published:
22 April 2025
Abstract:
This article reveals the historical process of the construction of Orthodox churches in the Samarkand
region. The purpose of the study is to determine the social impact of the religious and administrative policy of the
Russian Empire by studying this process. The study uses source studies, political analysis and historical
approaches. The article studies the construction of Orthodox churches in Samarkand and the interaction with the
local population in this process. The impact of the imperial government's policy on the construction of Orthodox
churches in Samarkand is also analyzed based on archival documents.
Keywords:
Orthodox churches, Samarkand, Turkestan Governorate-General, religious policy, archival documents,
source studies, political influence, construction process, Russian Empire.
Introduction:
The construction of Orthodox churches in
the Turkestan region, as part of the religious policy of
the Russian Empire, greatly manifested its political and
social impact. The construction of Orthodox churches
in the Samarkand region formed part of the empire's
attitude towards the local population and culture. This
article analyzes the process of construction of
Orthodox churches in the Samarkand region and how
the Russian government managed this process. The
main purpose of the study is to study the process of
construction of Orthodox churches in Samarkand, the
role of the governor-general's policy in this process,
and the interaction with the local population. The
research uses the methods of source study, historical
analysis, and political analysis. The article analyzes the
construction of churches in the Samarkand region and
its political and economic impact based on new
sources. [1:32]
METHOD
The governor-general system of the Russian Empire
was established at the end of the 19th century to
centralize administration in the Turkestan provinces
and support regional policy. The Samarkand region was
also governed within this system with its own political
and religious organizations. Samarkand, as the central
part of the Turkestan Governor-General, became one
of the important places that influenced the economic
and cultural policy of the Russian Empire. During this
period, the political authority of the governor-general
in Samarkand and the entire Turkestan region was
strong, and he made not only civil, but also religious
and administrative decisions. The governors-general,
reporting directly to the central authorities of the
Russian Empire, implemented various political,
religious and cultural policies in the region. Political and
economic crises in the Turkestan region required the
creation of a new regional governance system. [2:76] In
this process, the governors-general tried to create a
large administrative structure and network of officials
in Samarkand, as well as to take the necessary
measures for the effective implementation of the
policy of the Russian Empire. The Samarkand region,
with its important geostrategic location and social
structure, was of special importance for the Russian
Empire. [3:44]
The religious policy of the Russian Empire was
especially associated with the development of the
Orthodox Church. The Russian government placed the
Orthodox religion at the center of its religious policy
International Journal Of History And Political Sciences
45
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International Journal Of History And Political Sciences (ISSN
–
2771-2222)
and saw it as the main tool for strengthening the
empire. The construction and development of
Orthodox churches became an integral part of Russia's
social, political, and economic policy. The construction
of Orthodox churches in the Samarkand region, as part
of the religious policy of the Russian Empire, brought
about many changes in the region. This policy was
carried out mainly with the aim of influencing the local
population and their religious views. The Russian
government took a number of initiatives to build and
develop Orthodox churches in Samarkand and the
entire Turkestan region. These initiatives, due to their
political, economic, and social significance, led to a
number of religious and cultural changes in the region.
The construction of Orthodox churches was seen as an
important tool not only for strengthening religious
authority, but also for increasing new religious
influences among the local population. The
construction and development of Orthodox churches in
Samarkand, as well as practices in other parts of the
Turkestan region, were efforts to implement the
Russian Empire's religious policy in the region. In this
process, the Russian government sought to strengthen
relations and integration processes with the local
population and other religious groups in order to
support its imperial policy. [4:80]
The Russian government, in order to strengthen its
religious and social influence in the Turkestan regions,
paid great attention to the construction of churches.
The process of building Orthodox churches in the
Samarkand region served general political and religious
goals and ensured the strengthening of the Russian
Empire. The construction of these churches was
directly related to the political decisions of the
Governor-General. First of all, the construction process
included the selection of a place, approval of the
project and the allocation of the necessary funds for
construction, as well as the involvement of consultants.
In general, the construction of Orthodox churches in
the region was not only religious, but also political, as
they were considered part of the social and cultural
management of the Russian Empire. [5:31]
The Orthodox churches built in Samarkand, their
general layout and construction sites, were carried out
within the framework of the regional administration
system of the Russian Empire. These constructions
were important not only for the local population, but
also for general political and economic processes. The
decrees of the Governor-General served as the main
instrument for resolving all important issues related to
the construction of churches. [6:55]
Decisions and management documents on the
construction of Orthodox churches in the Samarkand
region were carried out through documents of the
governor-general. These documents ensured the
effective functioning of the regional administration
system of the Russian Empire. Archival documents
played an important role, in particular, in the allocation
of funds for church construction, approval of projects
and selection of construction sites. Analysis of archival
documents reveals the political and economic aspects
of these construction processes. Among the documents
are information on the allocation of funds for
construction, approval of projects, selection of sites
and other political actions. These documents reflect
not only the goals and objectives of the construction,
but also the political decisions and interactions
between officials of that time. The construction of
Orthodox churches in Samarkand was carried out on
the basis of projects supported and approved by the
governor-general. Archival documents show the details
of the construction process and shed light on the
system of political management and decisions of that
time. Among them are the funds allocated for the
construction
of
churches,
construction
sites,
consultants and other details. Through these
documents, it is possible to conduct a political and
economic analysis of the construction of Orthodox
churches in Samarkand. [7:29]
During the construction of Orthodox churches in the
Samarkand region, there was also resistance from the
local Muslim population. Taking into account the
respect of the Muslim population of Samarkand for
their religious traditions, culture and religious objects,
the Russian government took various measures to
overcome this resistance. The Russian Empire, in order
to establish an effective administration and regional
system, was forced to take strict measures against the
resistance of the local Muslim population. [8:99] This
includes, in particular, the achievements made through
cultural integration and interfaith dialogue. The
Russian government, in its policy of effective
governance and the elimination of religious opposition,
has used all means to prevent the Muslim population
of Samarkand from rebelling against leaders and
officials. This has certainly become one of the
important aspects of Russia's regional policy. [9:49]
The majority of the population felt that the process of
building a church contradicted their religious and
cultural traditions. At the same time, the Russian
government was forced to use various social, political
and economic mechanisms to overcome the resistance
of the Muslim population of Samarkand and implement
its policy. Although this policy of the Russian
government affected the faith of the Muslim
population, there were groups among them who
continued to fight against the construction of the
church. However, this resistance did not have its social
International Journal Of History And Political Sciences
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https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ijhps
International Journal Of History And Political Sciences (ISSN
–
2771-2222)
and political consequences, because the Russian
Empire strengthened its political tools to achieve its
goals and strengthened its position at the international
level. [11:85]
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The policy of the Governor-General had a direct impact
on the construction of Orthodox churches in
Samarkand. The goals set by the Russian government
for church construction had their own social and
economic significance. The construction of Orthodox
churches served to strengthen the regional
administration of the Russian Empire not only
religiously, but also politically and economically.
Churches not only functioned as religious centers, but
they also served as an important tool for strengthening
the political and social influence of the Russian
government in the Samarkand region. The built
churches played an important role as religious centers
for the local population, and at the same time shaped
their economic activities. [12:81] The policy of the
Governor-General was implemented through the funds
allocated for the construction of Orthodox churches,
construction sites and projects. The economic impact
of these constructions was not only in line with the
economic development of the Samarkand region, but
also with the political goals of the Russian Empire. The
Orthodox churches built in Samarkand included several
factors that corresponded to the social, political and
economic goals of the Russian government.
The source-based approach plays an important role in
scientific research, since historical events and
processes are often fully described only through
archival documents and other sources. Archival sources
play a significant role in research on the construction of
Orthodox churches in Samarkand, especially in
shedding light on the political and religious policy of the
Russian Empire in the Turkestan Governorate. Archival
documents mainly include official decrees, orders,
memoranda, bulletins, and other documents. [13:73]
These documents reflect decisions regarding the
religious policy of the Russian Empire in the Samarkand
region, providing important information about their
main goals and the measures taken. The source-based
approach aims to analyze the historical significance of
these documents and show how they can be used in
scholarly work. [14:35] An important step in source
research is to compile a complete list of existing
documents and identify the key information they
contain. Documents related to the construction of
Orthodox churches in Samarkand cover not only the
construction process, but also relations with the local
population, the distribution of economic resources,
and the political influence of the government. Their full
analysis requires the identification of important
scholarly sources before embarking on the research.
CONCLUSION
The documents of the Governor-General contain all the
main decisions, orders and administrative documents
related to the construction of Orthodox churches in
Samarkand. The analysis of these documents is of great
importance not only historically, but also in a political,
economic and religious context. First, the documents
identify the main directions of the Russian Empire's
policy in the Samarkand region. The documents of the
Governor-General show the decisions taken to
implement various political and economic goals. For
example, the funds allocated for the construction of
Orthodox churches, architectural projects, locations
and other relevant issues were aimed at strengthening
the regional administration of the Russian Empire.
Secondly, the source analysis of the documents shows
the resistance of the Muslim population in Samarkand
and the measures taken by the Russian government to
overcome this resistance. Through the documents,
important information can be obtained about the
interaction between the population and the authorities
in Samarkand, as well as the political and social conflicts
in this process. Third, a source analysis of the
documents also allows us to study the socio-economic
impact of the construction of the church in Samarkand.
The funds allocated by the Russian government for the
construction of the church show where and how these
funds were distributed. A full analysis of this process
helps to identify the factors that influenced the
economic policy of the Russian Empire and its influence
in the region. A source analysis of the documents of the
Governor-General is important in collecting historical
data on the construction of Orthodox churches in
Samarkand and sheds light on how they are used in
scientific work. Through this analysis, it is possible to
understand more deeply the political, economic and
religious goals of the Russian Empire.
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