Trade Networks and Economic Relations of the Kokand Khanate in the Nineteenth Century: Regional Markets and International Exchange
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This article examines the development of commercial networks and external economic relations of the Kokand Khanate during the nineteenth century, focusing on the role of urban markets, merchant communities, commodity circulation, and cross-border exchange. Particular attention is given to Kokand's commercial connections with the Emirate of Bukhara, Kashgar, India, and the Russian Empire. The study employs historical-descriptive, comparative, and documentary analysis to investigate the relationship between geographical location, market organization, and regional economic integration. The findings suggest that the commercial significance of the Kokand Khanate was determined not only by its agricultural and handicraft production but also by its position within interconnected trading routes linking Central Asia with neighboring economic regions. The expansion of Russian industrial influence gradually altered the structure of commodity exchange and increased the importance of raw cotton in external trade. The article argues that nineteenth-century commercial relations contributed to the consolidation of Kokand as an important economic center while exposing its markets to growing external political and economic pressures. Keywords: Kokand Khanate, nineteenth century, international trade, Central Asia, Silk Road, merchant networks, Russian Empire, Kashgar, economic history
Language: English
Topic: Eurasian Exchange Networks
Subfield: Anthropology
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7224108008