History of Uzbekistan (4th Century – Early 13th Century) Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering the key terms, social roles, dynasties, and scholars from the history of Uzbekistan between the 4th and 13th centuries.

Middle Ages (O‘rta asrlar)

A term introduced into history by Italian historians, linked to changes in the form of private property and the transition from ancient systems.

Dehqon

In the early Middle Ages, this term referred to large landowners who were considered 'village rulers' and held significant social and political power.

Kadivar

Landless farmers in the early medieval period who worked on the ekinzorlar (fields) of the dehqon (landowners).

Kashovarz

Free farmers who lived in rural communities, owning common property consisting of both land and water.

Chokar

A special military group or guard used by dehqons to protect their farms from external attacks and maintain internal order.

Amudaryo

A river starting from glaciers on the northern slopes of the Hindiqush, providing vital water to the Khwarazm (Xorazm) region.

Afrig‘iylar

A local dynasty of Khwarazmshahs (Xorazmshohlar) that ruled Khwarazm from the $3rd$ to the $10th$ century, founded by Afrig‘.

Mobad

Zoroastrian priests responsible for performing religious ceremonies and preserving religious teachings across generations.

Xioniylar (Chionites)

Turkic tribes that occupied the Zarafshan oasis in the $4th$ century; Western historians refer to them as 'White Huns'.

Kidariylar (Kidarites)

A group of nomadic pastoralists led by the ruler Kidar who established control in the southern part of the Chionite state in the $5th$ century.

Eftaliylar (Hephthalites)

A tribal union belonging to the Eftalon dynasty (also known as Vaxshunvar) that ruled Turon during the $5th$ and $6th$ centuries.

Madina at-tujjor

An Arabic phrase meaning 'City of Merchants,' used to describe the significant trade center of Poykand.

Turk

An ancient and large ethnos; the word carries meanings such as 'strong,' 'perfect,' or 'just.'

Ashina

The royal household of the Turkic Khaganate; it was believed that Tangri (the Divine) granted political power specifically to this family.

Yabg‘u (Jabg‘u)

The title used for the ruler of the 'Ten Arrows' (O‘n o‘q) people or the head of the Western Turkic Khaganate.

Adji

The religious symbol of Tangrism (Tangrichilik), consisting of a cross with four equal sides, often drawn on the forehead in red.

Ixshid

The title given to the supreme ruler of regions such as Sug‘d (Sogdia) and Farg‘ona (Fergana) during the Turkic Khaganate period.

Shahriston

The main urban part of a medieval city in the East, containing the residences of officials and wealthy citizens, usually surrounded by walls.

Rabod

The outer suburb of a medieval city, located outside the shahriston walls, where trade and craft activities were concentrated.

Movarounnahr

An Arabic name meaning 'The land across the river,' referring to the region between the Amudaryo and Sirdaryo rivers.

Jiz‘ya

A poll tax (jon solig‘i) collected from non-Muslim residents under the Arab Caliphate.

Abu Muslim

A kufan propagandist for the Abbasids who led a rebellion in Khuroson against the Umayyads; his name means 'the best Muslim.'

Muqanna

Meaning 'The Veiled One,' the nickname of Hoshim ibn Hakim, the leader of the 'White Raiment' (Oq kiyimlilar) rebellion.

Somonxudot

The ancestor of the Samanid (Somoniylar) dynasty, whose grandsons were appointed as governors by the Caliph Ma’mun.

Barzikor

A term for tenant farmers or plowmen (qo‘shchilar) who rented land from large landowners during the Samanid period.

Iqto

Large estates granted to military or civil officials for their service to the state; the holders were known as 'muqto' or 'iqtodor.'

Farsakh (Farsang)

A medieval unit of distance measurement used in Central Asia, approximately equal to $6\,km$ or $12,000$ steps.

Chek (Check)

A financial document (sarroflik cheki) used by Samanid-era merchants to retrieve money from money-changers (sarrofs) in different cities.

Hojib ul-hujob

Also known as 'Hojibi buzruk,' this was the highest military rank in the Samanid and Ghaznavid courts, acting as the chief chamberlain.

Mazhab

An Arabic word meaning 'direction' or 'path,' referring to the four main schools of law in Sunni Islam (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali).

Siyosatnoma

A famous work on the art of government and statecraft written by the Seljuk vizier Nizomulmulk.

Jorulloh

A title meaning 'Neighbor of Allah' given to the scholar Mahmud Zamakhshari (Zamaxshariy) for his long residence in Mecca.

Hidoya

The masterpiece of Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh) written by Burhoniddin Marg‘inoniy, consisting of $57$ chapters.

Algebra

A branch of mathematics derived from Al-Khwarizmi's (Xorazmiy) work 'Al-jabr val-muqobala,' of which he is considered the founder.

Nilometer (Miqyosi Nil)

A device for measuring the water level of the Nile River, built by Ahmad al-Farghani (Ahmad Farg‘oniy) in $861\,AD$ on Ravza Island.

Al-muallim as-Soniy

The 'Second Teacher,' a title given to the philosopher Abu Nasr Forobiy (Al-Farabi), following Aristotle.