Traditional Farming in the Economic Culture of the Uzbek People: on the Example of the Surkhan Oasis (Historical and Ethnological Analysis)

Abstract

This article is devoted to learning long traditions of Surkhan valley agriculture. It was proved by ethnographical field materials and archive documents in this article that Surkhan valley was surrounded by mountains covering 3 sides, only southern side was open to Amu-Darya, and this geographical position was very comfortable for agriculture. It was scientifically determined that Surkhan valley was not only high-tempered area, but also very convenient land with sunny weather. New kinds of the crops of Surkhan valley agriculture were augmented according to local position at the period of Bukhara emirate. Creating special kinds of land products and cereals suitable for valley climate were written based on archive sources. Changes happening on sowing crops in the valley influencing political, economic and ethnographical processes resulted by Bukhara emirate’s being dependent to Russian empire were given based on scientific literature, archive materials, and statistics. As well as stretching cotton-growing lands, traditions of agriculture, and transformation processes were analyzed by many historical-ethnographical sources for this time.