Роль Бухары во внешних связях Караханидов

Abstract

The annexation of Bukhara to the Qarakhanid possessions at the turn of the 10th and 11th centuries became a turning point, marking the dynasty’s entry into the international arena of the Islamic world. This paper rethinks the functional significance of this metropolis, which is viewed not merely as an administrative center, but as a complex tool for implementing the Khaganate’s external and internal strategies. Concrete facts and examples are examined here, clearly proving the above arguments. The scientific novelty of the study lies in a comprehensive analysis of how Bukhara’s economic potential and architectural appearance were converted into the dynasty’s political prestige and diplomatic influence at the regional level. An interdisciplinary approach was applied during the research, combining the historical-analytical study of Arab-Persian narrative sources (al-Narshakhi, Ibn al-Athir, al-Utbi) with numismatic and archaeological analysis. The author relies on coin minting data (gold dinars of 991–992, fels of 999), which serve as primary evidence for the legitimation of Qarakhanid power and the recording of their vassal relations with the Seljuks. The article also cites the works of English-speaking and Turkic-speaking scholars, demonstrating the versatility and objectivity of the study of this topic. The research results demonstrate that Bukhara functioned as a key economic hub of the Silk Road. It was revealed that the production and export of unique goods, such as “zandaniji” cloth, provided the state with stable trade links to Iraq and India. It is proved that Qarakhanid monumental construction (the Kalyan minaret, the Shamsabad and Juybar palaces) was representative in nature. Special attention is paid to the Rabat-i Malik site, which is identified as a “royal fortress” and a place for receiving foreign embassies, symbolizing the synthesis of steppe traditions and urban culture. The article argues for Bukhara’s role as a “point of confrontation and alliance” in multi-vector relations with the Ghaznavids, Seljuks, and Khwarazmshahs. It was established that the periods of construction and economic prosperity of the city (during the reigns of Ibrahim ibn Nasr and Arslan Khan Muhammad) directly correlated with the strengthening of the state’s foreign policy sovereignty. In conclusion, it is determined that Bukhara became a symbol of recognition in the Muslim world for the Qarakhanids. The formation of a “comprehensive economy,” combining agriculture, nomadic pastoralism, and transborder trade, turned the city into a crucial factor in the Khaganate’s viability. Strategic possession of Bukhara remained a decisive argument in the struggle for leadership in Mawarannahr until the beginning of the 13th century.