The Khanate of Kokand: Central Asia's Last Independent Khanate

The Story of Uzbekistan: Silk Road Kingdoms and Soviet Legacy — Fexingo History · Jul 5, 2026 · 6m · transcript

Before the Russian conquest, the Ferghana Valley was home to the Khanate of Kokand, a powerful state that rivaled Bukhara and Khiva. This episode traces its rise from a small Uzbek tribe to a major Silk Road power, its conflicts with the Russian Empire, and its eventual annexation in 1876. We explore the reign of Alim Khan, the khan who expanded Kokand's borders, the role of the city of Kokand as a center of trade and Islamic learning, and the tragic end of the khanate after a series of revolts and Russian military campaigns. Along the way, we encounter figures like the poet and military…