History of Khwarazm (Khwarazm from Me'mûnî to Seljuks 992-1097)

Throughout history, Khwarazm has maintained its importance and emerged as a region where different political structures, languages, religions and cultures met and merged. With the opportunities provided by the physical structure and geographical location of the region, Khwarazm has always attracted the attention of states and societies. Khwarazm, which became a part of the Muslim world from the beginning of the 8th century after the Islamic conquests, remained in the shadow of regions such as Khorasan and Transoxiana, which bordered it, until the end of the 10th century. From this period on, it began to come to the forefront in political, scientific, literary, social and cultural areas under the influence of economic and commercial factors. The main subject of this study is the political, social, economic, scientific and cultural events that took place in Khwarazm between 992-1097. At the beginning of the period we are considering, with the disappearance of the Afrigian power in Khwarazm, the region was sequentially dominated by the Me'mûnîs, Altuntashids, Shah Malik and Seljuks. The Me'mûnîs, who became the governors of Gurganj under the Samanids in 992, put an end to the Afrigians in 995 and took over the entire region, gaining the title of Khwarazmshah. With the collapse of the Samanid State in 999, they also became independent in Khwarazm. During this period, they tried to maintain their power in Khwarazm by following a balancing policy against the great states of the period, such as the Karakhanids who held Transoxiana and the Ghaznavids who dominated Khorasan. With Sultan Mahmud taking over the region in 1017 and putting an end to the Me'mûnîs, the Altuntashids, who were subordinate to the Ghaznavids, were established in Khwarazm. The dominance of the Altuntashids, who rebelled against the Ghaznavids in 1035 and became independent in Khwarazm, was ended by the Emir of Cend, Shah Malik, in 1041. However, Shah Malik's rule in Khwarazm was short-lived and the region was annexed to the Seljuks in 1043 and began to be governed by governors appointed by them. During this period, Khwarazm stood out with its many cities and towns, fertile agricultural lands, and trade. With the establishment of Turkish rule in the region, it can be seen that the ethnic structure and culture of Khwarazm were transformed. At the same time, it held an important place in the Islamic world with its scientific and literary life.