Khorezm

Wiloyat (region) in northwestern Uzbekistan; area 4,500 sq km/1,737 sq mi; population (1996) 1,069,000. The capital is Urgench and Khiva is another city. The province lies north of the Kara-Kum desert in the delta of the Amu Darya River, and forms an extensive and fertile oasis. Industries include the manufacture of pottery, textiles, and silk. Irrigation aids the cultivation of lucerne, rice, wheat, barley, oats, peas, flax, hemp, and fruits (predominantly grapes and melons). Animal husbandry (sheep, cattle, horses, and camels) is another industry.

History Khorezm once formed part of the former ancient Persian province of Chorasmia (6th century BC). After Arab conquests in the late 7th century AD, it became the Khwarizm Empire (under the Khorizmshah dynasty) in the 12th century, and later, after conquest by the Mongols, the Khiva Khanate. The khanate was made a vassal state of Russia in 1873. The khan was deposed by the Soviet administration in 1920, and in 1924 the northern part of Khiva now covered by Khorezm wiloyat was included in the Uzbek SSR, while the southern portion was incorporated into the Turkmen SSR (now independent Turkmenistan).