Islamic architecture of Uzbekistan: Development and features

Abstract

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With the introduction of Islam in VIII century on the territory of modern Uzbekistan, an expressive Islamic architecture was shaped, based on the rich local traditions. New types of religious constructions came up. Islamic
architecture in Uzbekistan was enriched during the period of 10th–12th and of 14th–17th centuries. It had common regional lines, as well as features from local architectural schools of Bukhara, Samarkand, Khwarazm and Fergana. Among the various types of architectural structures, the most widespread are the portal-domed compositions for mausoleums, khanaqahs, maqsuras, etc., courtyard-iwan structure for Jamie-mosques, madrasahs, rabats and most memorial complexes. There were three basic types of mosque constructions: quarter, Jami-mosques and celebratory mosques, musallas or namazgahs. Minarets also had local features in the form of a lantern and a decor of a cylindrical trunk. Mausoleums were actively constructed from the end of 9th century up to the 15th century but during 16th–17th centuries, the practice was abandoned. Madrasahs became known here from the 10th century onwards. Earliest three of them, built by Ulugbek in 15th century have remained in Bukhara, Samarkand and Gijduvan. Khanaqah–based on a portal-domed structure with a spacious central prayer hall called dzikr-khana, played the role of monasteries and prayer hall for Sufis. From the 15th–17th centuries, most monumental khanaqahs were popular here. The Naqshbandi sufi order was constructed. More than 2,200 monuments of Islamic architecture dating from 9th–20th centuries have been preserved in Uzbekistan. Most of them are located in large cities along the Great Silk Road as Bukhara, Samarkand, Khiva and Shakhrisabz are included into the World Heritage List of UNESCO.