Afghans, Indians, and Iranians of the Past

Descendants of migrants from Merv and other regions of Khorasan - a historical and cultural region of Eastern Iran, who settled in the Bukhara Emirate at different times and for different reasons, they formed a special ethno-religious group here. Iranian and Turkic elements were combined in its ethnogenesis and culture. It is believed that the Ironis contributed to the development of the art of making pure silk fabrics in Bukhara and other cities, which is one of the bright phenomena of the traditional artistic culture of Uzbekistan. Along with the indigenous peoples, photographers of the past also captured Afghans and Indians who came on trade missions and sometimes lived for a long time in Central Asian cities, adding to their ethnic diversity. The products of Afghan artisans were always in demand among the local population, especially copper-plated dishes, weapons - daggers and sabers, which were eagerly acquired by the Uzbek nobility. Afghans settled mainly in Samarkand and Bukhara, where the most populous bazaars were and where buyers came from all over Central Asia. Communities of Indians existed in different regions of the Turkestan Krai: Fergana, Syr Darya, and Semirechye.

You can learn more about the topic in the book-album “Uzbekistan in historic photographs of the 19th - early 20th centuries in the collections of Russian archives” (Volume XXXVII) in the series “Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan”.
 
The general sponsor of the project is the oilfield services company Eriell-Group.