Individual tours in Khorezm.

“And from here, from a fifteen-meter height, a grandiose unforgettable panorama of the ancient Khorezm conquered by the desert opened before us, before which the still vivid impression of the Guldursun ruins faded. Ahead of us, spreading across the boundless sea to the west, east and north, lay the dead sands. Only far away on the northern horizon, through the haze of distance, was the bluish silhouette of the Sultan-Uizdag mountains drawn."

S.P. Tolstov. "Along the ancient deltas of the Oxus and Yaxart".

Excursions of Khorezm.

The new society, which emerged on the basis of a powerful economic and cultural foundation of ancient Khorezm, overcame severe social difficulties in a short time. Written sources from this period are much larger and richer than those from the previous period.
This greatly facilitated the archaeological study of monuments and their generalization. Having experienced strong internal upheavals, Khorezm, after the destruction of the Arab Caliphate, in the 9th-10th centuries. was under the rule of the powerful and large feudal states of Central Asia and Eastern Iran that appeared one after another.
Among them were the Tahirids, the Saffarids, and the Samanids. At this time, in Khorezm, as well as in the neighboring states of Central Asia, the traditions of the old patriarchal-slave-owning society began to gradually give way to the formation of new, feudal relations.
This tendency to destroy old relations has thrown off the conventional mask - equality between the aristocracy and free farmers, which contributed to the emergence of social contradictions between them. A part of the spoiled elite, striving for a higher social position, needed the support of a part of free farmers to subjugate the rest. The new feudal state could be its support.
During the time of the great scholar Abu Reikhan Biruni, the early feudal states of Central Asia were in decline. Social contradictions intensified, robbery and merciless wars spread. This led to the fall of the dominance of the Samanids, leaving behind only the nominal government of the state, and the dismemberment of the country.
This contributed to some strengthening of the Ghaznavid state and the emergence of the Seljuk empire on the arena of history. By the second half of the Xth century, this empire significantly expanded its borders, located in the southwest to the cities of Taraz (modern Dzhambul) and Chach (Tashkent), in the south to the Kuvandarya and Dzhanadarya rivers, in the north Sarysu.
This included the deltas of the Chalkar and Irgyz rivers, in the north its borders reached the lands of the Bashkirs at the foot of the Ural Mountains and in the west they touched the lands of the Khazars on the Volga. In such a situation, Khorezm, which has preserved its independence, again begins to appear on the stage of history.
According to many historical and archaeological information, from the end of the X century. Khorezm, economically, begins to develop very quickly. This is confirmed by the growth of cities. If in 712 there were only three cities in Khorezm, then by the beginning of the X century there were thirteen of them.
According to the Arab author al-Maksidi, in 985 the number of Khorezm cities reached 32. The presence of a large number of ceramics discovered during archaeological excavations testifies to the development of handicraft production here.
The emergence of cities during this period had its own characteristics. Small towns and fortified settlements are being built at the foot of large fortresses. An example of this is the Burgut kala complex and, especially, the fortresses of Norinzhon, Guldursun, Kavat kala, Dzhonlik kala, Dovdon kala and others.
Undoubtedly, urban development is one of the indicators of the country's development. Khorezm, having begun to develop in new conditions, is strengthening economic ties with other countries. In the X - XI centuries, Khorezm became a large trade center: its merchants developed trade with the inhabitants of the steppe regions of present-day Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, with the Khazars and Bulgars of the Volga region and with the Slavic world of Eastern Europe.
The author of the 10th century Istakhri, who lived in Urgench for a long time, writes about the development of trade here: “Khorezm is a fruitful city. It contains a lot of foods and fruits, not just nuts. Cotton and wool products are exported far beyond the borders of the country, and various goods are sold in local markets. The population has its own character traits - in particular, wealth and the desire to show their courage. "
According to the research of archaeologists, the road to the capital of the Khazars, the city of Itil, passed through the Belovli caravanserai. This road leads to the lower reaches of the Emba River in the Urals and the Volga region. The Arab traveler Ibn Fadlan, who followed this route in the X - XI centuries, reports that there were several beautiful caravan-sarais, the distance between which was 25 kilometers, which ensured the quiet movement of trade caravans.
According to archaeologists, one of such points was the Talaykhonat caravanserai. Round in shape, it was built of baked bricks (60 meters in diameter). To our days, its walls have been partially preserved. In the center of the caravanserai there was a quadrangular structure, around which beautifully decorated ayvans were arranged.
On both sides, eighteen rooms for caravan men were attached to it. It is noteworthy that in the center of the havli there is a deep well (or water storage) of the sardoba type, where they go down the stairs, laid out of baked bricks. Sardoba has a hole 1.7 meters in diameter and 3.5 meters deep.
A sardoba of this type was set up on the large steppe caravan routes laid across Eurasia. Opposite the entrance to the caravanserai there are gutters through which rainwater flows into the sardoba. Among the finds in the caravanserai there are many household utensils and various utensils, in particular, vessels for water.
From iron objects there are shovels, scoops, scissors, awls and other items. At the entrance to the caravanserai, the attention of a person is drawn to the inscriptions on the walls in Kufi letters. On the aforementioned trade routes, the imposing building of the Belovli caravanserai stands out.
This remarkable building has four watering wells. Each well is fenced with special stone slabs. Near each of them there is a large dish for water for the livestock. The building of the caravanserai itself is skillfully built of yellow stone. Its inner part consists of two-storey hujras and several large halls arranged at the back, which form a kind of quadrangle.
Opposite the portal there is a square where you can still find traces of a buried well or pool. It should be especially noted that Belovli is not only an example of the wonderful early medieval architecture of Khorezm, a unique unique example of monumental art, but also a magnificent building on the way of the Khorezmshahs to the Volga along the Great Silk Road, which is not inferior in importance to the "Great Royal Road" of antiquity.
If you head from Belovli to the northwest, that is, to Embu, you can find a small structure called Churuk. And if you walk another three or four kilometers, you will see the ruins of Koskuduk, as well as Uchkon and Toskechu. If you go to the southeast, you can find the ruins of the caravan-shed Kosbulok, Bulok, Uchkuduk.
This road will lead to the medieval capital of the Khorezmshahs - Kunya-Urgench. It is noteworthy that in many caravanserais one or two wells with water can be found. In connection with the development of trade with Eastern Europe, Kunya Urgench turns into the largest fortification on the outskirts of the northwestern part of the Khorezm state.
According to the testimony of the unknown author of "Khudud al Amam": "Gurganzh (Urgench), which was the ancient possession of the Khorezmshahs, at that time had its own shah, independent of the main sovereign. The Ugrench king was called the mayor of Gurganj.
Considered the richest town, it was the main gateway to Turkestan and became an important gathering place for merchants. " Its allocation as a special city was associated with the rapid economic development of the country and the expansion of trade relations with the Volga region.
The reason for the successful development was the general historical and political situation in the region, which created conditions for communication and trade of various peoples of Central Asia and Eastern Europe, even the Greeks (Romans) and Syrians in the capital of Khorezm in the city of Kat.
This, in turn, created an opportunity for the Khorezmians to become closely acquainted with the language, culture and science of various peoples. The hometown of the great Biruni, Kat, having recovered from the devastation in a short time, not only became famous as a large and political center, but also turned into a large, recognized center of science and culture.
As one of Makdisi's contemporaries writes, in his time Kat was much larger than Bukhara. Many scientists and literate people lived here. In terms of its position, Qat was significantly higher than the largest cultural centers in Iraq.
The floods that occurred as a result of the uncontrollable flow of the Amu Darya interfered with the development and prosperity of the city, which forced the population to retreat from the river bank. In the first half of X in. the waves of the Amu Darya created a danger for Kata and its suburbs, and by the end of the century the river finally destroyed the fortress.
As Biruni points out, the Amu Darya, washing away the city, washed away parts of it every year. By 994, not a trace remained of the city. However, despite the onset of the river, life in Katya did not stop. The population, leaving the old city, began to build new houses at its eastern outskirts.
According to Makdisi, the famous Khorezm architects have restored the city from the devastation in a short time. The ruler (hakim) of Urgench Mamun in 995 with his army captures the capital of the Khorezm state of Kat and kills his old enemy Abu Abdullakhan.
Mamun I, having united the state of Khorezmshahs, declares himself the single ruler of Khorezm. During his reign, terrible bloody events took place, military campaigns to distant countries were organized, and complex political events took place.
After him, Mamun II came to the throne, and great changes began to take place in the history of Khorezm. Since that time, Urgench has become the capital of the state, which turns into a major cultural center. The Arab traveler and geographer Yakut, who has visited many countries of the world, writes the following:
“I have never seen such a rich, beautiful city anywhere in my life. In my opinion, among the cities in the world there is no equal to Urgench, famous for its endless wealth, vast territory, large population and unforgettable beauty."
According to Istakhri: “Gurganj is the largest city in Khorezm, a place of trade for the Oghuz. From there caravans leave for Djurzhania, Khazaria and Khorasan. " Ibn Batuta, the predecessor of Istakhri, who visited Khorezm, wrote: "A large number of the population of Urgench overwhelms the city like waves of the ocean."
The capital was a major craft center. As one of the authors of the 8th century writes, at that time about fifty different types of handicraft and handicraft production were developed in the cities of Khorezm. Urgench was a densely populated city, which was located on both banks of the Amu Darya, with two dams.
The Mongols besieged him for a very long time. And they managed to capture it only after the destruction of dams and partial flooding of the city, after which the population was forced to submit. Before this event, there were several bazaars in the city, where a special overseer (muhtasib) was appointed, who oversaw the cleanliness, discipline, scales and honesty of the sellers. Urgench becomes one of the major centers of the Great Silk Road.
Local merchants sent their goods to distant and near countries, in particular to Iraq, China, India and even Andalusia (Spain). Khorezm kings paid special attention to the safety of trade caravans. In the cities and in some large villages of Khorezm, there were bazaars.
According to historical information, during the time of the great Khorezmshahs, the country's villages turned into flourishing settlements. Sources say that viloyats (regions) have their own fogs, and villages have “well-cultivated fields”. There is a lot of cotton, garden crops and various fruit trees.
Beautifully decorated houses, castles and palaces, according to sources and archaeological data, testify to the high prosperity and cultural life of the local population. The appearance of outstanding thinkers in the "Arab world" is not accidental, despite the decline that took place in Khorezm for a relatively short time.
As well as in the multinational and multilingual Arab Caliphate, the Arabic language played a great role. He occupied the same position throughout the medieval East. If in Europe the Latin language was officially recognized as the language of science, then the Arabic language played the same role in the creation of science in the East.
In principle, the true science was created by scientists from Central and Asia Minor, Transcaucasia, Iran, and then Spain. The Arabic language united scientists of different nationalities and facilitated mutual understanding between them.
Abu Raikhan Biruni expressed regret that he did not write his works in his native language. He stressed that, contrary to his wishes, the native language did not become the language of science: “All over the world, scientific works have been translated into Arabic.
Every nation loves its native language, and every person wants to communicate with other people in the same language. I began to write in Arabic and Iranian, but both languages ​​are not native to me, so it is difficult for me to express my thoughts in these languages. "
Of course, it should be understood that the last words of Biruni show only the modesty of the scientist, since his level of proficiency in the Arabic language was very high. He freely used all genres of the Arabic literary language.
Abu Raikhan Biruni, among other things, was fluent in Persian, ancient Sanskrit and Greek. Khorezm scientists who worked in the Arab Caliphate rank first among the creators of "Arab science". A serious study of monuments of material culture also makes it possible to assert that exact and natural sciences have been developed in Khorezm since ancient times.
The art of architecture is based on strict adherence to the laws of the exact sciences. Thorough calculations in the construction business, grandiose water structures, the Khorezm calendar compiled by Biruni and a fairly complete astronomical terminology, the discovery of the secrets of rich and colorful mineral paints and ornaments on the monuments of Toprak kala, Kunya Urgench and others, fragments of glass and various metal products found in ancient ruins - all this also shows the high level of development of the exact sciences of that time.
Almost a century after the Arab invasion, which brought death to many people and destruction, the country, located in the steppes of Central Asia, gave the world one of the recognized greatest scientists, Muhammad Musa al Khorezmi (783 - 850).
The great thinker and founder of a new school of science was a mathematician, astronomer and geographer. The works of al Khorezmi occupy a worthy place in world science. It is known that the word "algorithm" comes from the name of al Khorezmi, and the word "algebra" was formed from the title of his famous book "al Jabr".
According to S.P. Tolstov, the strength of the “great founder of the science of algebra” Khorezmi lies in the fact that, based on the centuries-old tradition of mathematics, he creatively restored and developed it in a new way. Al Khorezmi introduced his perfect mathematics to the Arabs, then to European scientists, whose work was based on Latin.
According to some reports, al Khorezmi participated as a geographer among the ambassadors of the Arab Caliphate sent to Khazaria. Among researchers there is an opinion that it was he who laid the foundations of the geography and ethnography of Eastern Europe.
According to V.V. Barthold, al Khorezmi, with his work "al Kitab surat al arz" (Painting of the earth), became the founder of Arab geography. The main branches of science in which Khorezmi was engaged were mathematics, geography, chronology and astronomy. These sciences were seriously studied by his Khorezm contemporaries, who together with him contributed to the development of the above-mentioned branches of knowledge.
The works of these scientists and the schools they created in Khorezm were known in the scientific world. Abu Raikhan Biruni in the X-XI centuries was a prominent representative of science, whose work reaches the highest point of scientific thought.
In the image of Biruni, the great scientist of the medieval East, a deep knowledge of astronomy, geography, mineralogy and ethnography is presented. Biruni was also a remarkable historian and poet of his time. Trying to find scientists equal to him, researchers called him the second Eratosthenes, Ptolemy and even the great scientist of the Renaissance Leonardo da Vinci. As S.P. Tolstov, it would be fair to call Biruni not the second Leonardo da Vinci, but, on the contrary, put him in front of the great Italian artist.
Al Biruni was born in a difficult historical period on the outskirts of the capital of the Khorezm state of South Kata in 973. His name comes from the word berun, which means a place on the outskirts of the town. He witnessed the internecine struggle of the feudal lords, witnessed popular uprisings against the oppressors and their brutal suppression, while sharing the fate of the oppressed masses. He spent most of his life in wanderings, but despite this, wherever he lived and in whatever difficult conditions he was, Biruni devoted himself entirely to science.
While in his native Khorezm, this great scientist received deep knowledge. He mastered ancient Greek science, several languages, philosophy, botany, mathematics, studied astronomy. The most famous representative of the latter branch of knowledge was the astronomer and mathematician Abu Nasr Mansur ibn Irokni, whom Biruni always respected and considered his teacher.
When the ruler of Urgench conquers the city of Kat, Biruni (he was then 23 years old) was forced to leave his native Khorezm. He leaves for the southeastern coast of the Caspian Sea to the city of Gorgan, where he lives for some time.
Then the scientist moves to the city of Rei (present-day Tehran), and then returns to Gorgan again. Biruni, probably not of his own free will returned to Gorgan, but arrives at the invitation of the local ruler. In this city, famous poets and scientists were gathered, who warmly greeted the great Khorezm scientist, who by this time was already the author of a dozen works on practical astronomy.
In Gorgan in 1000 Biruni wrote his largest work "Al-osor al bokiya an al-kurun al-kholiya" ("Monuments of ancient peoples"), and later - "Al-Konun al-Masudi" ("Masud Canon") dedicated to Sultan Masud Ghaznavi, which is an encyclopedia that includes comprehensive information on astronomy, trigonometry, geography, which brought him more great fame.
After Biruni lived in Gorgan for 3 - 4 years, he felt painful from the atmosphere around him, and he could no longer endure the antics of his patron Kobus. He dreamed of returning to his homeland. He writes about the ruler of Gorgan: "Shams al-Maoli (Kobus) demanded services from me against my will, he was a very evil person."
It is possible that the then ruler of Khorezm, Abu Ali Mamun ibn Muhammad, made an offer to return to Biruni's homeland. He returned to his homeland in 1004, and from that time a new period of his creative activity began.
During the reign of Shah Ibn Mamun, Biruni had good opportunities for his scientific activities for more than six years. During these years, thanks to the care and support of Khorezmshah, Biruni was able to gather around himself famous scientists, poets, writers and create the first Academy of Sciences in the East, known as the Academy of Mamun.
Subsequently, after the new shah, brother of the former ruler Mamun ibn Mamun, came to power, the situation changed dramatically and the state of the great scientist in 1010 became intolerable. The new shah seeks to use Biruni in public affairs, which at first he succeeds.
Biruni was invited to the palace, appointed a close adviser to the shah and charged with solving difficult issues, in particular in the field of diplomacy. A few years later, recalling this period of his life, the scientist wrote: "Such difficult days fell on my head that only fools could envy my position, pitiful smart people sympathized."
At this time, Khorezm was subordinated to the formidable conqueror, the feudal lord, the founder of a large empire, Mahmud Ghaznavi. He demands that all the great scientists move to his palace so that they can do their work in the palace of Khorezmshah.
As a result, Abu Raikhan Biruni, along with other scientists, were sent to the capital Ghaznu. The cruel ruler Mahmud Ghaznavi, in order to become famous, gathers around him poets and scientists. However, he practically did not understand the significance of the creative activity of scientists and did not appreciate them, while demanding from them impeccable obedience to him.
According to sources, Mahmoud Ghaznavi addressed Biruni with the following words: "If you wish to be in my palace, not worthy of your science, you must speak according to my will." Expressing dissatisfaction about those times, Biruni writes: “Today science is not appreciated, and there are no necessary conditions for its development.
The current state of our knowledge in the field of science is an approximate, scattered and varied scientific knowledge of ancient times, that is, antiquity. " According to legend, Abu Raikhan Biruni, at the behest of Mahmud Ghaznavi, was imprisoned for many years and even nearly died.
However, despite such humiliation, he continued to engage in research work in any difficult conditions. Forced to participate in the military campaigns of Mahmoud Ghaznavi to northern India, observing the life of the people, Biruni carefully studied this country, its language and literature.
He fully mastered the literary heritage of India and wrote the wonderful work "India". Having played an important role in history, this work was completed by him in 1030. According to legend, Mahmud Ghaznavi gave Biruni a large reward for this work.
However, the scientist, believing that this award will interfere with his work, refuses to accept it and says to the Sultan: "I work with enthusiasm and will never exchange my eternal knowledge for temporary false praise."
Biruni spent the last twenty years of his life in Ghazna. During this time, he wrote several large and small works. After Mahmud Ghaznavi, his son Masud Sultan came to power, who sought to develop astronomy. It was at this time that Biruni created his large encyclopedic work, including such sciences as astronomy, geography and mathematics. This work was dedicated to Sultan Masud and was called "Al-Konun al-Masudi" ("Masud's Canon").
The work consisted of twelve books. Here astronomy is comprehensively sanctified, valuable information about the calendar of various peoples is contained, and trigonometry and mathematics are also revealed. The great scientist and thinker Abu Raikhan Biruni, according to the latest research, died in 1048 far from the homeland of Khorezm in the city of Gazna.
According to the famous medieval traveler and geographer Yakut, who wrote a biography of Biruni, while sick in bed, he received some scientists who turned to him with a request for help in solving some scientific problems.
A person who came to him, addressing the patient, said: "Is it time now to solve such scientific problems?" To which Biruni answered him: “Eh, my friend, I cannot close my eyes, great fame. After Biruni lived in Gorgan for 3 - 4 years, he felt painful from the atmosphere around him, and he could no longer endure the antics of his patron Kobus. He dreamed of returning to his homeland.
He writes about the ruler of Gorgan: "Shams al-Maoli (Kobus) demanded services from me against my will, he was a very evil person." It is possible that the then ruler of Khorezm, Abu Ali Mamun ibn Muhammad, made an offer to return to Biruni's homeland.
He returned to his homeland in 1004, and from that time a new period of his creative activity began. During the reign of Shah Ibn Mamun, Biruni had good opportunities for his scientific activities for more than six years.
During these years, thanks to the care and support of Khorezmshah, Biruni was able to gather around himself famous scientists, poets, writers and create the first Academy of Sciences in the East, known as the Academy of Mamun.
Subsequently, after the new shah, brother of the former ruler Mamun ibn Mamun, came to power, the situation changed dramatically and the state of the great scientist in 1010 became intolerable. The new shah seeks to use Biruni in public affairs, which at first he succeeds.
Biruni was invited to the palace, appointed a close adviser to the shah and charged with solving difficult issues, in particular in the field of diplomacy. A few years later, recalling this period of his life, the scientist wrote: "Such difficult days fell on my head that only fools could envy my position, pitiful smart people sympathized."
At this time, Khorezm was subordinated to the formidable conqueror, the feudal lord, the founder of a large empire, Mahmud Ghaznavi. He demands that all the great move scientists to his palace so that they can do their work in the palace of Khorezmshah.
As a result, Abu Raikhan Biruni, along with other scientists, were sent to the capital Ghaznu. The cruel ruler Mahmud Ghaznavi, in order to become famous, gathers around him poets and scientists. However, he practically did not understand the significance of the creative activity of scientists and did not appreciate them, while demanding from them impeccable obedience to him. According to sources, Mahmoud Ghaznavi addressed Biruni with the following words:
"If you wish to be in my palace, not worthy of your science, you must speak according to my will." Expressing dissatisfaction about those times, Biruni writes: “Today science is not appreciated, and there are no necessary conditions for its development.
The current state of our knowledge in the field of science is an approximate, scattered and varied scientific knowledge of ancient times, that is, antiquity. "According to legend, Abu Raikhan Biruni, at the behest of Mahmud Ghaznavi, was imprisoned for many years and even nearly died.
However, despite such humiliation, he continued to engage in research work in any difficult conditions. Forced to participate in the military campaigns of Mahmoud Ghaznavi to northern India, observing the life of the people, Biruni carefully studied this country, its language and literature.
He fully mastered the literary heritage of India and wrote the wonderful work "India". Having played an important role in history, this work was completed by him in 1030. According to legend, Mahmud Ghaznavi gave Biruni a large reward for this work.
However, the scientist, believing that this award will interfere with his work, refuses to accept it and says to the Sultan: "I work with enthusiasm and will never exchange my eternal knowledge for temporary false praise."
Biruni spent the last twenty years of his life in Ghazna. During this time, he wrote several large and small works. After Mahmud Ghaznavi, his son Masud Sultan came to power, who sought to develop astronomy. It was at this time that Biruni created his large encyclopedic work, including such sciences as astronomy, geography and mathematics. This work was dedicated to Sultan Masud and was called "Al-Konun al-Masudi" ("Masud's Canon").
The work consisted of twelve books. Here astronomy is comprehensively sanctified, valuable information about the calendar of various peoples is contained, and trigonometry and mathematics are also revealed. The great scientist and thinker Abu Raikhan Biruni, according to the latest research, died in 1048 far from the homeland of Khorezm in the city of Gazna.
According to the famous medieval traveler and geographer Yakut, who wrote a biography of Biruni, while sick in bed, he received some scientists who turned to him with a request for help in solving some scientific problems.
A person who came to him, addressing the patient, said: "Is it time now to solve such scientific problems?" To which Biruni answered him: “Eh, my friend, I cannot close my eyes, nor in later times. Teaching in a madrasah (that is, being a mudaris) was considered a very revered occupation.
The high-ranking officials dreamed of becoming Mudaris after they were relieved of their duties. A characteristic feature of the fine arts of that time was, in contrast to ancient times, the observance of the rules of the Islamic religion, according to which it was impossible to depict living beings.
For this reason, ornamentation and geometric images predominated in art. Despite the fact that the fortress walls were built in the XII century, in their construction they were distinguished by the fact that they preserved the traditions of ancient construction.
The walls were built of adobe bricks of the typical size of their time (40 x 40 x 10 cm). They, as before, were two-story and had almost the same arrow-shaped embrasures for archers. In the cemeteries of this time, gravestones appear, for the construction of which, in addition to fired bricks, fragments of glass and other household items are used.
Workshops for the production of glass found eight kilometers north of the capital are of great importance, which testifies to the development of crafts in Central Asia at that time. The appearance of large mosques and other large buildings with rich ornamentation testifies to a new stage in development.
On some monuments, coins were found minted by the Khorezmshahs, often with their image. The monument to Shahsenem is interesting. Of the household finds made there, the most interesting are a copper cauldron with lugs, a bone awl and dishes made of glass and ceramics, stone products, as well as coins of the late Kushan period.
In addition to household finds, items of armament and fortress construction techniques deserve attention. As studies have shown, this monument, built in antiquity, continued to function in the Kushan time. But by the period of the Afrygians, this fortress turns into ruins.
And only during the period of the great Khorezmshahs life in the fortress is restored. Another monument dating back to the Biruni era is Kyz kala, located on the right bank of the Amu Darya. This high fortress, located on the Adyr, was all defensively successful.
In the center of the monument there is a hauz (a kind of pond, water storage). Such hauz can also be found in the western part of the fortress. With a diameter of 4 - 4.5 meters, these houses were built of baked bricks, on top of them they were plastered with plaster. They resemble sardobas with wells built in the steppes of Central Asia. Not far from this fortress, there is the Dzhigit kala defensive structure, which served as a signal tower when enemies appeared.
The western walls of Kyz-Kala were fortified with 3 burjs in the shape of a semicircle. In one of the burjas there was a brick well, 16.2 meters deep. A canal was specially connected to it to fill the well with water. This clay hidden underground structure was protected by the Dzhigit Kala fortress, which stood on the banks of the river.
Between this defensive fortress and Kyz-kala, on a straight road, every 300 - 350 meters, fires were burned at small artificial heights to warn of the staying enemies from Kyzylkum. According to archaeological data, in the monuments of Kyzkala and Dzhigit kala in the XIIth and in the middle of the XIIIth centuries, life continued until the Mongol invasion.
The monuments included in the complex of the Kavat Kala fortress allow us to present a picture of the socio-political life in the era of the great Khorezmshahs, as well as outline the cultural appearance of the region's population.
During the African era, free dehkans and feudal lords, who belonged to the same social group, working in the state apparatus, as a result of radical socio-economic transformations, separated from the dependent ordinary dehkans, and thus, the feudal society was divided into two opposite classes.
The internecine wars that intensified under the Afrygians ceased with the establishment of the feudal system. This is how a peaceful period in the life of the population begins. The former fortified beautiful palaces and castles are replaced by ordinary dekhkan estates.
This can be seen especially clearly at the monuments of the Kuwat kala type located along the Gavhara canals. In this region, on an area 2-3 kilometers wide and 15 kilometers long, there were numerous estates, palaces and castles.
Around Kuwat kala there were, according to research, more than ninety estates, covering an area of ​​about 8 square meters. km. In the center of the valley there was a small fortified settlement measuring 160 by 190 meters, in which there was a feudal castle with decorated pakhsov walls.
There were four more similar buildings nearby. Each of them was surrounded by square walls with loopholes and corner towers. However, unlike the antique ones, the encircled walls were not high. They were apparently not built for defense.
By design, these buildings resemble some modern Khorezm estates designed for large families (khovli). There were vast estates close to them or not far from them. Their feature is the presence of numerous small niches in the walls.
The local population called such buildings kaptarkhona, that is, dovecotes. According to S.P. Tolstov, such buildings served as hotels, and niches in the walls, as in houses of modern Uzbeks, served for household utensils, dishes, and so on.
Ibn Batuta, who visited Urgench, writes that he was received by a kazi and saw niches in his residence, which were closed with curtains. According to the assumptions of some authors, similar niches could be used for storing fruits.
"Dovecotes" were built in different ways, and some of them were like small castles with burjas. This is largely reminiscent of the castles of the Afrigid period, which shows the preservation of old architectural traditions.
The adobe walls of the "dovecote" were also decorated with carved designs. There are not many excavated monuments in the Kuwat kala complex. Noteworthy is the found in the first room of the central fortress Kuwat kala sufa (bed) 40 cm high in the form of a pyramid, made of sand stone, as well as a marble bed.
In the same room, various objects made of copper and iron, fragments of glass and clay dishes, remains of objects made of wood, and pieces of paper were found. Among the objects stand out a tuncha (a vessel for water with a long spout) made of copper, a knife with a wooden handle, and a number of other iron objects.
In the second room, stone millstones were found, in the fifth - a shield for a horse's chest with an Arabic inscription, fragments of an iron cauldron, and more. When researching Kuvat kala, it was found that a ruler lived in the central fortress, large feudal lords lived in castles, and fortified settlements were the habitats of small landowners and dehkans.
This means that we can already talk about the existence of different estates, of which the feudal system of the country of that period consisted. Studies of the monuments showed that they were badly destroyed as a result of a strong fire. The fire was so intense that some copper and glass objects melted.
According to the available data, the burning of Kuwat Kala was associated with the Mongol invasion. Perhaps the troops of Genghis Khan, led by Chagatai and Udegey, went to Bukhara after Samarkand, and from there, moving to Urgench, they destroyed and burned this fortress.
During the period of the Khorezmshahs, many cities took on a form typical for the cities of Central Asia. The capital of Khorezm at that time can serve as an example of this. The ruins of this city are located in the current Dashoguz velayat of Turkmenistan in the Kunyaurgench region.
It has not yet been established with certainty when the city of Urgench appeared. Famous orientalists V.V. Bartold and A. Yu. Yakubovskiy compare the term Urgench (Gurganj) with the oldest (1st century BC) Chinese designation of Khorezm - Yuegyan, or Yuetszyan, which is found in the "History of the Elders Han".
According to Professor Ya.G. Gulyamov, the name of this city is found in the sources of the 9th century. Basic information about the city of Urgench is found mainly in the sources of the 10th century. The ruins of the medieval capital of Khorezm, Urgench, cover an area of ​​approximately 400 hectares.
The city is surrounded by flowering fields between Kunyaurgench (Old Urgench) and the ancient channel of the Amu Darya Daryalik. The excavations carried out here showed that the city was once surrounded by powerful walls. They were built from adobe bricks, small in size. Some of the walls have survived to this day.
The Khorezm expedition, conducting excavations and research there, found well-preserved monuments, such as the Turabekkhanym tomb and next to it the beautiful Urgench minaret (XIV century), the magnificent tombs of Tekesh and Fakhriddin Rosi (XII - XIII centuries), and to the south of them - Tash kala fortress.
In the east of this fortress, there are the ruins of the Okkala fortress, the walls of which are made of small adobe (unbaked) bricks. Attention is also drawn to the unique monument of Khorazmbag, which was found approximately 1.5 kilometers west of Tash Kala, surrounded by a large adobe wall. Tash kala was a polygon-shaped fortress measuring 600 x 800 meters, surrounded by a wall of baked bricks and a deep moat.
On the territory of the fortress there are the remains of the ruins known as the gate of the caravanserai, as well as destroyed on the threshold of the XX century. large medieval minaret. As a result of archaeological excavations at the southern gate of Tash kala, the remains of the city wall were found and it was found that the walls were built of burnt bricks.
Under the wall there is a moat 2.5 meters deep, also made of baked bricks. The walls of the big city are magnificently built. They consist of an outer (1.65 meters wide) and inner (0.8 meters wide) walls, the space between which is filled with sand.
The whole structure together forms a monumental structure with a total width of 4 meters. This wall, according to the researchers, was restored on the site of the ruins of an earlier wall. Perhaps Tashkent ala is the ruins of an arch or a palace inside Urgench, which occupied in the XIII - XIV centuries large area.
Studies have shown that in the XV - XVII centuries. life in the city was limited to the Tashkala fortress. The fact that objects belonging to this period were found only on the territory of the fortress confirms this. Urban ruins on a large street, where the "gates of the Caravanserai" are located, were also studied.
On Chorsu, near the Caravanserai, numerous shops of artisans were arranged, in one of the corners there was a teahouse, a canteen and a fish canteen. Near the dining room, there are traces of hollows for fires, where a large cauldron (a large round-bottomed vat for cooking pilaf and other dishes) could fit.
A large number of fragments of teapots were found in the ruins of the teahouse, and small copper coins were found in one small bag. It was found that there was also a bakery, a blacksmith's shop, a bathhouse and other buildings.
Both poverty and prosperity of residents in the makhalla (residential area of ​​the town) are visible in the architecture of the houses. On the one side there is a small room of a poor artisan, on the other - luxurious buildings of the rich, decorated with ganch and painted.
In all rooms, regardless of their size, sufas were made (elevations along the walls such as sofas for people to sleep), with the possibility of heating them with specially built-in ovens made of baked bricks. The quality of the clay items found was low.
Among the items worn on this monument, there is also a porcelain dish with hieroglyphic inscriptions, which testifies to the activity, as in the pre-epoch, of trade relations between Khorezm and China. Among the finds are often hand scales made of iron and brass, thimbles, small vessels made of brass, as well as objects made of iron, bones and horns of animals.
Exploring the ruins of a minaret dating back to the early Middle Ages also provided important information. According to an inscription on a stone near the ruins of the minaret, found in 1900, this minaret was built in 1011, i.e. during the period of the Maamun Academy, during the years of the activity of Abu Ali ibn Sina and Abu Reyhan Biruni.
But it was destroyed during the Mongol invasion along with other city monuments. The minaret was rebuilt in the XIV century. and it can be considered the same age as the Turabekkhanim minaret still preserved in the old Urgench.
Noteworthy are the ruins of a large and luxurious mosque found near it and the minaret and dating back to the 11th century. It is possible that this mosque was the main mosque of Urgench during the life of Biruni.
It was also destroyed during the Mongol conquest and later rebuilt. Various building materials, fragments of earthen vessels and other items found on the Khorazmbag monument indicate that this fortress was the summer residence of the Khorezm ruler.
All the ruins of Urgench, not counting some monuments, make it possible to imagine in detail what a tragedy the cruel Mongol invasion was for Khorezm. In addition to these monuments, as a result of the Mongol invasion, taike cities and fortresses of Khorezm such as Guldursun, Shurakhon, Norindjan, Mizdakkhan, Dargon and others were turned into ruins.
Many villages and towns were also destroyed, but over time, life in them was restored. During the period of the highest prosperity of Khorezm, large and rather strong Turkic tribes lived around the state of Khorezmshahs - Kangly, Kipchak, Turkman.
Having united with the local population, they even prepared to oppose the capital of the Arab Caliphate - Baghdad. However, the state, which at first glance seemed strong, experienced strong internal contradictions.
It is noteworthy that among such remarkable monuments that have survived to this day as the mausoleums of Turabekkhanym, Tekesh, Nijameddin Kubra, as well as the only minaret, the attention of archaeologists was attracted by the ruins of a large caravanserai.
The excavations carried out on this monument, especially in the workshops of artisans, made it possible to imagine the turbulent life of medieval Urgench with its avenues, streets and crowded bazaars. On the eve of the Mongol invasion, within the Khorezm state, there was an irreconcilable fierce struggle between powerful Turkic tribes and no less powerful local aristocracy.
This confrontation, moving to the surrounding palaces of the wealthy representatives of the population, takes on a fierce character. The ruler of Khorezm at that time, the son of Tekesh Khan Ala ad-Din Muhammad II (1200 - 1220), his Kipchak mother and her supporters and relatives, including those supported by the clergy Turkic crush (circles, encirclement) of neighboring tribes, sought to take power into their own hands.
The son of Khorezmshah, Jalallidin Manguberdy, who is supported by the rural aristocracy, opposes this with all his might. Undoubtedly, such an acute situation played into the hands of the victorious invasion of Khorezm by the Mongol troops under the leadership of Genghis Khan.

Authority:
Isa Jabbarov Doctor of Philosophy, Professor. Ancient Khorezm is a country of high culture and unique spirituality (Ethno-historical essays). Moscow: IEA RAN, 2014.304 p. Moscow, 2014.