Kuruki (Sanctuary) - Specially Protected Reserves: The History of Medieval Reserves in Central Asia

  • Yarash Khollievich G’affarov

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the history of the creation of reserves in Central Asia. The very notion "kuruk", meaning "forbidden", is of Turkic origin, and in Mongolian - "khorig" ("korig"). Kuruki reflected the ancient Turk-Mongolian ecological tradition of organizing nature reserves. They were associated with property rights and were of economic and economic importance; hunting grounds, pastures, strategic reserve of natural resources, places of entertainment, places of gathering of troops. Sometimes one and the same kuruk could perform several functions at the same time. The rulers of Central Asia also expanded the functions of the kuruk. In the late Middle Ages, kuruki as a type of land tenure received the greatest development in Central Asia, the rulers of which did much to ensure that this Turkic-Mongol institution was recognized in the context of the growing importance of Muslim law, for which they built palaces on forbidden lands. This was achieved due to the fact that possessions, which had the status of kuruk, began to complain to influential representatives of the Muslim clergy, who, thus, themselves acquired an interest in preserving their status as "places of worship" or even turning to to waqf.  According to sources, a significant part of such protected areas was located in the Kashkadarya valley, between Nakhshab and Kesh. In the XVI century. there was a hunting reserve here. The main watercourse feeding Karshi and its environs is the Kashkadarya and its tributaries, it is, obviously, the "river of hunting" - Nakhshab - in ancient times. In the narrative sources, resting places and hunting grounds of the Kashkadarya valley are mentioned more than once.

Published
2021-11-23
How to Cite
Yarash Khollievich G’affarov. (2021). Kuruki (Sanctuary) - Specially Protected Reserves: The History of Medieval Reserves in Central Asia. Design Engineering, 15644-15655. Retrieved from http://thedesignengineering.com/index.php/DE/article/view/6698
Section
Articles