Tax Policy in the Kokand Khanate (second half of the 19th century)

This article is dedicated to analyzing the tax policy of the Kokand Khanate in the second half of the 19th century -a period marked by internal instability and increased feudal fragmentation.The focus is on the characteristics of taxation, mechanisms for tax collection, and their impact on the socio-economic conditions of the Khanate's population.The tax system of the Khanate included both Islamic taxes (ushra tithe on the harvest, and zyakat -a wealth tax) and secular levies, including tributes, emergency duties, and taxes on artisans and merchants.A significant portion of taxes was collected in kind.Meanwhile, the centralized financial system was underdeveloped, and local administrators -beys and governors played a key role in tax collection, which fostered corruption and abuse.The increased tax burden, driven by constant military campaigns, the maintenance of the Khan's army, and efforts to tighten control over regions, led to growing social tension, peasant flight, and the decline of productive relations.Based on the analysis of archival documents, historical chronicles, and contemporary memoirs, the article reveals the causes of the tax system's crisis and its role in weakening the statehood of the Kokand Khanate.Particular attention is paid to the positive role of the Russian Empire, whose intervention helped organize tax administration, reduce local abuses, and gradually transition to more rational and sustainable forms of governance.This work contributes to a deeper understanding of the socio-economic processes in Central Asia on the eve of its integration into the Russian Empire.The primary objective of this article is to examine the structure of the Kokand Khanate's tax system in the latter half of the 19th century, identify its characteristics and dynamics of change, as well as assess the influence of tax policy on the development of society and the economy.The main research method is the comparative-historical approach, which allows for synthesizing information from various sources regarding tax policy in the Kokand Khanate.