Content of Khiva History

Khiva History
Period One
Period Two
Period Three
Period Four
Period Five

History of Khiva

The history of Khiva is closely intertwined with that of the rest of Khorezm, rich in major political, social, economic and cultural events. Khorezm, or Khvarizm - "Land of the Sun", is a historical and cultural hub boasting the largest number of the old settlements like, for example, Toprakqala, Kirkkizqala, Koikirilgan, Khazarasp, Khiva and others. Primitive implements of irrigated farming and cattle growing where known here as early as in the Neolithic Age (circa 2000 BC). By the onset of the 9th and 8th centuries BC the Khorezmians were already building semi-earthen houses.

Emerging somewhere in the 5th century BC, Khiva is one of the ancient-most cities in Asia. For many centuries, the Great Silk Road´s caravan routes wound their way through here connecting the East and West. Stopping over the enjoy the cool and crystal-clean water of its wells the appreciative merchants exclaimed admiringly "Hei-vakh!" prompting the locals to change it to Khivak as a new name for their place. Well, at least that´s another of the many legends about Khiva´s origin.

Khiva´s is first mentioned in Arabic and Persian Historical chronicles and traveler notes dating back to the 10th century AD. The prominent scholar Al Istakhri ranks khiva among the thirty biggest cities of his time and it is also mentioned by Al Makdisi, Abdurazzak Samarkandi, Mirkhond and Makhmoud bin Vali. Euumerating the Khorezmian cities in his Enigmatic Soulwriting, Khudaiberdy bin Kushmuhammed Khivaki mentions "another fortress built on sand by Som bin Nukh and better known to the world as Khivak."

The anvient source only mention Khiva's medieval history and read much like a legend. They give no definite time and initial development information though, which prompted a raft of archeological excavations made between 1984 and 1993 to provide the city's stage-by-stage political and cultural growth picture. The historians studied the most ancient part of the city - Ichan qala and unearthed 1,200 square meters of historical ground. A wealth of archeological finds was made resting seven meters deep and all pointing to the city's old age. An analysis of the information obtained and written sources available make it possible to conventionally divide the city's 5th - 12th century history into five periods.