Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The oldest studies relating to the age of Khiva are found in the 10th
century written sources (Al-Istakhri, Al-Makdisi, Abd al-Razzak Samar-
kandi, Abu Al-Gazi Bahadir Khan, etc.). Gulyamov mentions that Khiva
was a settlement developed on top of the old Khaykonik (modern Palvan-
yab) channel in the archaic period. Starting from the 10th,
historical re-
cords state Khiva's names as Khivak, Khiva, Khayvanik, Khaykonik and
Raml. “Khaykonik” among them means “big river/channel” and gives its
name to the mentioned channel (Mukhamedjanov, 1997). During the 16th
century, when Amu Darya changed its bed and flowed into the Aral Sea
instead of the Caspian Sea, Urgench (today Kunya-Urgench) lost all its
water and Khiva became the capital of North Khorezm for the first time,
and later of all the Khorezm region.
In order to reveal the age of Khiva, six excavations were made on a
1200 square meter area of Ichan Kale, the inner city of Khiva. The oldest
city has been discovered at a 7 meters depth, and with 10 historical layers,
the 2,500-year old city history was recovered. This also proved that Ichan
Kale is the oldest settlement of the city. The oldest ceramics findings and
wall ruins date back to the Viet-4th centuries B.C. In the second layer
corresponding to the 3rd-4th centuries B.C., the old city walls were forti-
fied with two additional brick layers and defense towers. It is observed
that Khiva was an agriculture center thanks to the Khaykonik channel wa-
ters, and also a crafts center in this period. Due to unknown reasons, the
city suffered a decline starting from the 1st century B.C., was covered by
sands and the city walls wore down. However, the city was reborn in the
next layer and started to become a trade center from the 1st century A.D.
onwards and a palace was built on its west side. The second decline of
Khiva corresponds to the end of the 4th century until the end of the 5th
century, being covered by the sands again. In the 6th century, the city was
restored and Dishpan Kala (the outer city) developed as the city expanded.
According to fifth layer findings, dating from the period between the 6th
and the beginning of the 12th century, Khiva was involved in Silk Road
trade besides its arts center status. Dishpan Kala was shaped by the set-
tling of craftsmen quarters. This prosperous period ended with the Mongol
invasion in 1220-1221, however, the city was reborn again. The last layer
represents the period when city culture grew most, dated to the 16th-19th
centuries. The unique architectural integrity is a result of these centuries.
Khiva Khans cared much about historiography and used the Chagatai
language, one of the Turkish dialects, unlike the other Turkish khanates,
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