THE ROLE OF KOKAND CARAVAN ROUTES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRADE RELATIONS WITH EASTERN TURKESTAN AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE REGIONAL ECONOMY (18TH–19TH CENTURIES)

Abstract

This article explores the formation and development of trade and economic relations between the Kokand Khanate, Eastern Turkestan, and Tashkent during the 18th and 19th centuries, based on historical sources. Particular attention is paid to the transit of Chinese goods (such as tea, silk, cotton, carpets, and others) from Eastern Turkestan through the Kokand Khanate to the Bukhara and Khiva Khanates, highlighting the strategic role of this route in shaping the regional trade network in Central Asia. The incorporation of Tashkent into the Kokand Khanate accelerated Russian economic expansion, which had a direct impact on the commercial and geoeconomic dynamics of the region. The article also analyzes the system of caravan routes passing through key historical settlements (Daraut-Kurgan, Kyzyl-Kurgan, Kashgar, Shaykhantahur, Beshyoghoch, Kukcha, and others) and the major trade centers along these paths. Furthermore, the trade-political relations are studied through the activities of historical figures such as Yunus Khoja, Muhammad Alikhan, Chokan Valikhanov, and A.G. Rotchev. The research emphasizes the significance of regional economic integration and the strategic importance of historical transit routes.