The development of personal libraries of that time was influenced by the economic and cultural conditions within states, the cult of books typical for Muslim society, the institution of patronage at the ruling courts, and the growth of book production.
In the 19th – early 20th centuries personal libraries were developing more intensively, especially in Bukhara, Fergana, Samarkand, Tashkent and other cities.
The sources of acquisition and growth of personal libraries were mainly donations from private persons, purchase of books domestically and abroad. Sometimes book lovers and collectors traveled to neighboring countries, especially Iran, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia to acquire rare, ancient works of famous scientists, writers and theologians.
The largest number of personal libraries was recorded on the territory of the Bukhara Emirate: beks, kazis, mullahs, employees of the administrative and bureaucratic apparatus, clergymen, writers, scientists – all had collections of books. Many libraries were formed long ago and passed from generation to generation.
You can learn more about the topic in the book-album "The Manuscript and Book Heritage of the National Library of Uzbekistan named after Alisher Navoi" (Volume XLI) in the series "The Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan".
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Main page//Personal libraries of Central Asia from ancient times to the beginning of the 20th century
Personal libraries of Central Asia from ancient times to the beginning of the 20th century
The history of the creation and existence of personal libraries and book collections on the territory of Central Asia, which goes back to the distant past – the 8th – 14th centuries, the time of the great states of Samanids, Karakhanids and Timurids, deserves attention and is really very interesting.