Uzbek

Uzbeks (O'zbek, Pl. O'zbeklar) are a Central Asian group of Turkic linguistic and cultural origins found primarily in Uzbekistan, as well as large populations also living in Afghanistan, Tajikstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Russia and Xinjiang province of China. The Uzbeks belong to the Mongoloid ethnic group and are a fusion of natives indigenous to the Uzbek area with Mongols and Persian peoples.

History

The Uzbek began as a secession of nomads from the Golden Horde. In 1422, a group of nomadic clans east of the Lower Volga, including Qangli, Qunggirat, Mahnghit, seceded from the central authority of the Khan at Sarai (Modern Volgograd, formerly Stalingrad). They called themselves Uzbeks. Their first leader, Barak, ravaged the lower Volga area between Sarai and Astrakhan, but he was murdered in 1428.

Related Topics:
Golden Horde - Volga - Qangli - Qunggirat - Mahnghit - Sarai - Volgograd - Astrakhan

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Barak was succeeded by Abul Khayr, a descendant of Batu's brother Shiban. The ruling house was therefore known as the Shibanids. In 1431, Abul Khayr moved to the central Kazakh steppe. In 1446, however, he changed his policy. The tribes moved south towards the Aral Sea and the Syr Darya to resume contacts with the sedentarists in Transoxania. Some clan chiefs revolted againt this new policy in 1456, forming a new secession of nomads, including Qangli, Qunggirat and Jalayir, calling themselves the Kazakhs. In 1457, another nomadic secession by the Oirats took place.

Related Topics:
Batu - Shiban - Kazakh - Aral Sea - Syr Darya - Transoxania - Kazakhs - Oirats

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Abul Khayr's grandson, Muhammad Shaybani, who led the tribes from 1496 to 1510, continued the conquest of Transoxania. He captured Samarkand in 1501 and Khiva in 1505. Muhammed Shibani fought with the Persian Safavid Shah Ismail I in 1510, to be killed by Persian artillery. But the Persian Shah was defeated by Ubaydullah, nephew of Shibani, in 1512. The Uzbeks established themselves in Bukhara. Abdullah II became khan of Bukhara in 1582, founding the khanate, later conquered by the Russians in the 19th century.

Related Topics:
Muhammad Shaybani - Samarkand - Khiva - Safavid - Ismail I - Bukhara

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