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Abstract

The article analyzes press materials that emerged under the conditions of the colonial policy of the Russian Empire in the Turkestan region as an independent complex of sources. In particular, it examines publications from the official newspapers “Turkestanskie Vedomosti” and “Turkiston Viloyatining Gazeti,” as well as the Jadid press such as “Samarkand,” “Taraqqiy,” “Oyina,” and “Zarafshon.” Their thematic priorities, ideological and political orientation, specific features of presenting historical material, and the degree to which they reflected the socio-political reality are considered.

Special attention is given to the source-study characteristics of periodical press: the level of informativeness, the degree of reliability, and the influence of subjective assessments and ideological factors. The official press, as a rule, conveyed the position of the imperial administration, interpreting the conquest of Turkestan and the establishment of colonial rule as a manifestation of a “civilizing mission.” In this context, the era of the khanates was often portrayed as a period of socio-political backwardness and internal contradictions.

In contrast to the official publications, the Jadid press was oriented toward reinterpreting national history, turning to the local historiographical tradition, and restoring historical memory. In the publications of representatives of the national intelligentsia such as Mahmudkhoja Behbudi, Sadriddin Ayni, B. Soliev, and M. Saidjonov, one can observe a стремление to present a more objective account of the history of Turkestan based on local written sources.

In particular, in the analysis of the history of the late Middle Ages, such works as “Mehmonnomayi Bukhara”, “Zafarnama”, “Firdavs ul-ikbal”, and ”Uzbekcha Fargona tarixi” were actively used. This indicates an attempt to rely on authentic sources of regional historiography.

In addition, publications by authors such as S. Abdulgaffarov, Mulla Mukhammad Olim, and others played a significant role in covering the history of the khanates up to the mid-19th century. By comparing the colonial period with the era of the khanates, they offered their own assessments of socio-political processes. This allows their articles to be considered not only as sources of factual information, but also as important documents reflecting the characteristics of public consciousness and historical thinking of the period under study.