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NATURAL GEOGRAPHICAL CLASSIFICATION OF THE MIYANKOL
MICRO-OASIS
Norkulova Gulida Sodikovna
Tashkent State Pedagogical University Independent Researcher of the Uzbekistan
History Department
Abstract
: According to sources, the Miankol region is home to important
ancient cities such as Ishtikhon, Sogarch, Ofarinkent, and Dahbed, which were
strategic centers in their time. These cities served as the administrative, economic,
trade, and cultural centers of the region. This article provides information about the
geographic classification of the Miankol region, its territorial location, and strategic
importance.
Keywords
: Zarafshan, Miankol, Ofarinkent, Sogarch, Ishtikhon, Okdarya,
Koradarya, Samarkand, Nim Sogd, Sogdi Khurd, Daitiya, Samariya, Kandia, Ghurak,
Ofarin, Farnkas, Chinese annals, Baburnama, Baburrahim Mashrab.
In the territory of Uzbekistan, there are many historical and archaeological
microregions, which have been studied in various ways. Particularly, many areas
have been studied based on archaeological research and written sources, but some
areas have yet to be fully explored. The Miankol region, located in Samarkand
province, is one of these regions that has not been fully uncovered in historical terms.
Looking at history, it is one of the important, yet insufficiently studied, areas. The
ancient civilizations of the world, such as Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Harappa, were
all located in great river basins, and these regions have had significant strategic
importance in history, characterized by dense populations and well-developed trade
and commerce.
The Zarafshan River, located to the northeast of Samarkand city, divides into
two branches at the Suvairigich (dam) near the Choponota hill. The northern branch
is called Okdarya, and the southern one is called Koradarya (in Persian sources,
Okdarya is referred to as "Daroyi Safed" and Koradarya as "Siyahobi Kalon"). The
length of Okdarya is 130 km, while Koradarya is 127 km long. The widest point
between the two branches is 15 km, located in the area of the Dovul village on the
left bank of Koradarya. These two rivers meet again in the territory of the Khatirchi
district of the Navoi region. This area is one of the most fertile and well-developed
agricultural regions in the Zarafshan valley and has been historically known as the
Miankol region. Today, it includes the Okdarya and Ishtikhon districts of Samarkand
province, as well as the most important irrigated agricultural region of the
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Kattaqorgon district. The length of the river is over 100 km, with a width of 15 km
and an area of 1200 km². [1]
Historically, this region has been known as the most prosperous, fertile, and
agriculturally developed part of the Zarafshan valley. Miankol is one of the oldest
regions in the Zarafshan valley. The name Miankol has been used for more than two
thousand years, with the region being known by several names throughout history,
and since the 16th century, it has been referred to as Miankol. The area has always
stood out due to its unique geographic location and its role in socio-economic
relations.
In ancient times, the region, known as Sogdiana (Sugd), had several major cities,
including Samarkand, situated between the branches of the Zarafshan River, namely
the Okdarya and Koradarya. This area was known by names such as Sogd, Nim Sogd
(Half of Sogd), and Sogdi Khurd (Small Sogd). The region was famous for its
beautiful nature, clear mists, and hospitable people, leaving a significant mark in
history. [2]
In the "Kandia" ("Small Kand") book, it is stated that "villages around
Samarkand, including Kesh, Nakhshab, Ishtikhon, and Sogarch, are part of this area."
These cities were once under the control of the Sogdian state and are now being
restored again, subject to Samarkand," [3] as mentioned in the sources.
In the book Qandiya by Abu Hafs Najmuddin Umar an-Nasafi as-Samarqandi,
information is provided about the Sogharj fortress and the local Burhaniddin
Sogharji, who was born and raised there: "Sheikh Burhaniddin Sogharji was a
descendant of Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab. The reason for being named Sogharji is
that when the Islamic army arrived in the Samarkand region in the 8th century, the
Sogharj fortress was the largest after Samarkand and Bukhara. They began their
march towards it and besieged the fortress. After a while, they captured it, and the
management of the fortress was entrusted to Sheikh Sogharji's ancestors of that time."
[4]
Abu Tahir Khodja Samarkandi, in his work Sameriya, mentions: "The lands on
the northern side of the Zarafshan (Kuhak) river are divided into two parts. One is the
irrigation area, and the other is the steppe. The irrigation area directly connects to the
Kuhak River and is further divided into two parts. The eastern part is called the
Sugudi Kalon district, and the half part in Kunbotar is referred to as the Ofarinkent
district." [5]
According to information provided by Abulkarim as-Sam'ani, Sogharj was a
village located five farsakh from Samarkand in the Sogdian region, in the Isti khon
district, one of the major large villages in Sogd, from which many scholars and
imams have emerged both in ancient and modern times. [6]
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The Arab historian Ibn Hawqal also mentioned Sogharj in his writings, and it
was recorded under the name Sogharj in the medieval (16th century) works
Musakhkhar al-Bilad and Baburnama. [7]
In the Qandiya book, there is information about the founding of Ofarinkent:
"When Qutayba began his attack towards Samarkand, Ghurak was ruling there.
Ghurak had two brothers, Tarkhun and Ofarin. Ofarin, being the youngest and the
poorest, was entrusted by Ghurak to establish a settlement four farsakh away from
Samarkand, and he named it Ofarinkent in honor of his brother. Even today, this city
is called 'Ofarinkent' in honor of Ghurak's brother." [8]
The description of Miyankol and its surrounding districts is also found in the
work Baburnama by Zahiriddin Muhammad Babur, where he provides the following
information: "Samarkand also has a good district, including the Sogd district and the
neighboring districts. The beginning of it is Yoryailoq, and the end is Bukhara, with a
road distance of about eight kilometers where there is no village or
administration."[9]
By the time of Amir Timur, the teachings of Sufism were developing in the
region, and the Naqshbandi order was established by Timur. As a result, the
Naqshbandi teachings flourished in the region. The head of the Naqshbandi order in
the 15th century was Khoja Ahrar. One of his closest students, Muhammad Qazi, was
a well-educated man who lived in Kashgar, Fergana, and Tashkent. Among his
students was Khoja Ahmad Sayyid Jalaliddin Kason, who later became one of the
prominent figures in Central Asian Sufism and was known by the name Mahdum-i
Azam. [10]
Miyankol was considered one of the central provinces in the Bukhara Khanate
during the Shaybanid, Ashtarkhoni, and Manghit dynasties. [11]
The classification of settlements based on their geographical features can also be
seen in the work of Muhammad Amin Bukhari. Specifically, the author applies the
term "Sahroi" (desert) to the people living in the surrounding areas of Miyankol, in
contrast to the urban population of Bukhara. [12]
Ofarinkent (Pirinkent) is sometimes also referred to as Firinkent. Ofarinkent was
built in the 7th century in honor of Ghurak's younger brother, Ofarin, who was
appointed as the ruler of the place. [13]
When Ofarin settled there, it was a place of worship for Zoroastrians under the
leadership of a certain priest, and Ofarin sought their protection. The two hills in this
area indicate that it was a site for a temple and palace founded by the ruler of
Samarkand, Ghurak. The temple was located on the southern hill, and the sacred
"Chilota" spring flowed from underneath it. On the northern slope of this hill, Ghurak
built a fortress and entrusted it to his brother Ofarin. [14]
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In the 10th-century work Hudud al-'Alam, the city of Ofarinkent is referred to as
"Farnkas" and its location is shown between the Zarafshan River and Ishtikhon.[15]
In 1512, in a battle with the Shaybanids, Babur Mirza was defeated and exiled
from Samarkand. After that, Transoxiana was divided among the Shaybanid rulers.
The middle part of the Zarafshan Valley, including the Miankol and Nurata regions,
was given to Jonibek Sultan and his sons. Jonibek Sultan himself settled in Karmana,
while his son, Iskandar Sultan, settled in Ofarinkent, where he ruled the Ofarinkent
district until his father’s death in 935 Hijri (1529). The author of the Abdullannama
(“Sharafnamai Shahi”), Hafiz Tanush al-Bukhari, describes Ofarinkent in the
Miankol region as a province, and states that it was ruled by "Iskandarnishon Khan
Abdulfath Iskandar Bahodirkhon." [16]
From studying historical sources, we learn that Ofarinkent province is located in
the upper part of the island formed by the Oq and Qora rivers. This region was
initially known as “Nim Sugd” or “Sogdi Khurd” and began to be called Ofarinkent
from the time of the Shaybanids. The city's position reached its peak in the IX-XI
centuries, and later, during the Shaybanid era (1500-1599), it grew to prominence. By
the 16th century, the entire district had taken the name of Ofarinkent. The city
underwent phases of decline and development from the early 8th century to the
middle of the 18th century, remaining a city for almost a thousand years.
The poet Boborahim Mashrab, who visited Miankol and lived there for some
time, describes it as follows: "If you do not know, I will tell you — Miankol! The
sweetest melons and the finest grapes grow in this valley. The soil of this valley,
between the Oq and Qora rivers, is formed from dust carried by winds from distant
mountains and deserts. This region is incredibly fertile and prosperous, with many
villages and cities." [17]
In the 17th century, the renowned scholar Mahmud ibn Vali, in his work Bahr
al-Asrar fi Manaqib al-Ahyar, describes Miankol as follows: "Miankol is an island in
the middle flow of the Zarafshan River, formed by its branches, the Oq and Qora
rivers, with a length of 100 km." [18]
In the early Middle Ages, urban development advanced throughout Central Asia,
including in Sogd, where cities became administrative centers. Many of these cities
formed part of the Sogdian confederation. One such city, Ishtikhon, located in the
Miankol region in Central Sogd, was referred to as Sidikhen and Cao in Chinese
sources. [19]
In his memoirs, A. Vambery also mentions Miankol, writing: "We passed the
Karasuv area and reached Dovul. Our route went through ravines, and we could see
extensive forests lying ahead. These forests continued for half of the way to Bukhara,
serving as shelter for the Uzbek-Chinese-Qipchak tribes, who often clashed with the
Amir." [20]
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In the 1860s, A.S. Tatarenov, a Russian representative who was imprisoned in
Bukhara for seven months, describes Miankol as follows: "On October 28, 1866, we
reached a place 42 versts (about 42 kilometers) from Kattaqorgon. The cliffs on the
left side of the Miankol valley were steep and covered with a clay-like limestone
similar to those of the mountainous regions. The area around Karasuv, located 14
kilometers from Kattaqorgon, looked like the cliffs in the southern parts of Russian
territories." [21]
In 1870, during a trip to Bukhara, L.F. Kostyanko, a member of a Russian
mission that passed through the Miyonkol region, wrote about the route from
Samarkand to Bukhara. He described how the road was covered by gardens and
orchards of the Zarafshan valley for a distance of 20 kilometers. From the village of
Dovul, the road ascended toward Katta-Qurgon, and the banks of the river formed
hillocks. Miyonkol, a place known for its continuous lush orchards, was located in
this area. He explained that the region of Miyonkol was formed as a result of the
division of the Zarafshan River into two branches, the right branch, Okdaryo, and the
left branch, Qoradaryo. These branches later reunite near the city of Khatirchi, 100
kilometers from Samarkand. The population in the area was dense, with the land
covered in green gardens. [22]
A. Grebinkin, who carried out research in the Zarafshan Valley, described
Miyonkol as follows: “In the Zarafshan Valley, there is an island between the two
rivers, Okdaryo and Qoradaryo. This region is famous throughout Turkestan for its
fertility and agricultural culture. This is the famous Miyonkol region.” [23]
To the west of Samarkand, at a distance of 7 farsakhs, Ishtikhon, during the
period of the Turkic Khaganate, had its own administrative unit. [24]
In the 8th century, after the Arabs’ conquest, the Sogdian rulers moved their
thrones to Ishtikhon. The markets of Ishtikhon and some villages' revenues were
given to the caliph's general, Uzhayf ibn Anbas. Caliph al-Mu’tasim later confiscated
these revenues for the state treasury. Caliph al-Mu’tamid (870-892) transferred these
revenues to the ruler of Khurasan, Muhammad ibn Tahir (862-873). Ishtikhon was a
five-day travel distance long and one-day wide, bordered by the Sogharj mountains in
the northeast. In the 10th century, Ishtikhon was an important city consisting of the
Shahriston, Ark, and Rabat sections. [25]
Sogharj, in some medieval sources, is described as a district or city (in some
16th-century sources, it is said to belong to the Uzbek tribes), and in Hafiz Tanush al-
Bukhari's "Sharafnama-i Shahiy," it is even described as a province. Mahmood ibn
Wali, in his work "Bahr al-Asror fi Manaqib al-Ahror," wrote: "In ancient times,
Samarkand was associated with Khujand, Uratepa, Jizzakh, and other eastern
provinces. Currently, Samarkand controls famous cities and regions, such as Shiroz,
Sogharj, and Aliabad, located between Shurabozor and Okqutol." [26]
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In 1841-1842, M.M. Solovyev, who organized a scientific expedition to Bukhara
with naturalist A. Leman, wrote about Miyonkol: "Along the road from Katta-Qurgon
to Samarkand, there were many fields planted with rice. These rice fields were so
watered that Leman initially thought they were ponds. Along the way, we
encountered numerous Uzbek villages with rectangular orchards, magnificent
gardens, and blooming crops. As the expedition approached Samarkand, the region
between the branches of the Zarafshan River gradually narrowed. Between the two
branches (Okdaryo and Qoradaryo), there were many orchards and fertile lands with
cultivated crops. Some areas of the region were marshy, with small lakes, covered in
reeds and other aquatic plants." [27]
In the 1870s, A. Grebinkin, who conducted research in the Zarafshan Valley,
noted: "In the Middle Ages, large cities such as Sogharj and Ishtikhon, which were
administrative and trade centers in the Miyonkol region, existed. Today, only ruins
remain of these cities, covering several tens of hectares." [28] He further added: "The
region formed by the branches of the Zarafshan River, Okdaryo and Qoradaryo,
constitutes the most fertile and densely populated part of the valley, and its wealth is
undoubtedly tied to its fertile lands, orchards, and tree plantations. This area is
completely covered with irrigated lands, and there is no area in the entire island that
does not receive water. Furthermore, there are no lands that are not cultivated. The
local population values the land greatly, and every year there is an opportunity to
cultivate crops here. This area produces two harvests a year. After the spring wheat
and barley are harvested, melons, watermelons, and maize are planted. In short, the
island is the granary of all of Turkestan, a region that produces much grain and even
provides Bukhara with rice." [29]
According to the Orientalist A.A. Semenov, Sogharj, an ancient and large city-
type settlement in the Zarafshan Valley, is located in the northeast of Samarkand,
about 50 km (five farsakhs) away from it, near Ishtikhon. Sogharj flourished during
the era of the Uzbek dynasties and was an important city and private property. The
ruins of this city are located 4 km from Yangi-Qurgon. Sogharj is considered a
medieval city located about 45 km northwest of Samarkand, in the Miyonkol region.
[30]
In ancient times, the right bank of the Okdaryo River began to be settled, and
fertile lands along large mountain rivers flowing into the Okdaryo River, such as the
cities of Saganak, Oktepa, fortifications like Qorghontepa, Arktepa, and estates, were
distinguished. [31]
In the scientific research of Miyonkol conducted by K. Pardaev, he reviewed the
opinions of several researchers and concluded that the name "Miyonkol" is derived
from the Persian-Tajik words "miyon" meaning "middle" or "interval" and "kom"
meaning "river," "canal," or "water." Therefore, the term "Miyonkol" originally
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meant "middle of the river" or "between two waters," and later, it began to be
pronounced as "Miyonkol."
Based on historical-geographical descriptions and information about the
population, we can conclude: Miyonkol is located between the branches of the
Zarafshan River, Okdaryo, and Qoradaryo, in the central part of the valley, and is
described as a geographically advantageous, fertile, and well-watered region. Some
sources mention certain cities and regions outside the valley that are related to
Miyonkol. Most Russian researchers describe Miyonkol not only as the geographical
region of the Zarafshan Valley but also as a fertile, well-watered, and agricultural
area that was an important part of the entire Bukhara Khanate.
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