Paper short abstract:

In this report, the colonial history of Khujand and Ura-Tube will be considered through the prism of the theories cultural frontier

Paper long abstract:

The study of the colonial period never loses its relevance, especially in the modern interpretation within the framework of post-colonial theory.

Central Asia as part of Russia during the second half of the XIX - early XX centuries, which is referred to in historical literature as the "colonial period", is characterized by complex and contradictory processes in all spheres of life and everyday life of the peoples of Central Asia. Colonial rule seriously affected all aspects of life and everyday life, had a significant impact on their deformation. During the colonial period, one can observe the preservation of traditions and, to a certain extent, the initial tolerance, and then dichotomy and, in the end, the transformation of some institutions of society.

Today, in the study of the colonial period, researchers use different methods; for example, through the prism of the theory of the cultural frontier, through the using of visual material, we trace the modifications of life and culture of such historical cities as Khujand and Ura-Tube. In addition to historical information, we can also observe the social life of the indigenous population - the Tajiks who inhabited these cities. Along with this, one can also trace historical-geographical, economic and irrigation changes, for example, the main approaches to cities, the main citadel, the surrounding gardens and irrigation system, the modernization of cities or the appearance of parallel cities with the arrival of Russians.

Important sources, visual materials that show light on the history of colonial Khujand directly are the works of artists or photographers of that era. We are talking about sketches, drawings, photographs by A.L. Kuhn, D. Velezhev, V.V. Vereshchagin, M.I. Brodovsky and Hugo Kraft, whose masterpieces were included in the famous collection "Turkestan Album" (1871-1872) and served as a source for the report.