Lapas A. Alibekov1, Saodat L. Alibekova2 1 Samarkand State University, Department of Physical Geography and Geoecology; University Boulevard 15, Samarkand, 703004 Uzbekistan; Tel: (+998662) 2310636 * Corresponding author; e-mail: [email protected] 2 Samarkand State University, Department of Economical Theory; University Boulevard 15, Samarkand, 703004 Uzbekistan; Tel: (+99862) 2332960 THE ROLE OF ENVIRONMENT IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SUSTAINABILITY OF SAMARKAND 89 ABSTRACT. The emergence, formation, THE OBJECT OF RESEARCH and development of the city are largely The oldest state formations in Central Asia connected with its landscape position. were Bactria, Khorezm, and Sogdiana. The first stage of Samarkand’s existence Sogdiana occupied the Zaravshan valley may be referred to as “river civilization”. and adjacent Kashka-Darya basin. The main Over the course of development of the city of Sogdiana was Samarkand. city, the nature and intensity of interaction of the population and economy with its In the Zaravshan valley, irrigation based landscape have undergone changes; there agriculture continued to evolve and is a distinct general pattern: dependence on improve. Horticulture and viticulture were the landscape. This was largely the reason very sophisticated. for its sustainable development for many centuries. This fact should be considered Edward Schaefer, the largest orientalist in future activities in landscape and spatial (researcher of Chinese culture of the Tang planning. epoch), University of California, in his famous book with the exotic name of “The Colden KEY WORDS: natural landscapes, landscape peaches of Samarkand” [Schaefer, 1981], pattern, living conditions, sustainable wrote: “The title of this book – “The Golden development, historical environment. Peaches of Samarkand” – was chosen because it resembles may things at the same INTRODUCTION time: the golden apples of the Hesperides, the peaches of immortality, Chinese legend By the Decision of the General Conference places far to the West, the “Golden journey to of UNESCO at its 33rd session on October Samarkand” by James Elroy Flecker, and the 20, 2005, and the Decree of the President of melodies of Frederick Delius “The Road to the Republic of Uzbekistan on July 25, 2006, Samarkand” for Flecker’s play “Hassan.” But if Samarkand celebrated its 2750th anniversary you leave out these vague associations with on August 25–30, 2007. The celebration the myths and music, the golden peaches of the anniversary was internationally existed in reality. Twice in the VIIth century, recognized. In May 2007, Samarkand hosted the Samarkand kingdom sent these unusual the International Conference “The Value and yellow peaches as a gift to the Chinese Place of Samarkand in History of Universal court. “They were as big as goose eggs, and Cultural Development”. In this paper, we because the color was like gold, they were demonstrate the importance of geographical called: the golden peaches. A few young factors in sustainable development of the trees, which produced these regal fruits were city of Samarkand. brought by the embassy convoy through gi113.indd 89 22.03.2013 11:00:43 the desert Serinda and planted in the palace geographical position at the crossroads of gardens of Chanani. Now we can only guess caravan routes on their way from north to what sort of a peach it was and what was it south and from west to east, which defined taste. Attractive, due to their inaccessibility, it as the dominant center, accumulating the golden peaches of Samarkand relaying cultural achievements of the great symbolized, in the Heavenly Empire Tang, civilizations of antiquity and the Middle all exotic and desirable, all unknown, and Ages. But Sogdians themselves, in turn, appealing” (p. 14). Further, Edward Schaefer were spreading the achievements of their wrote: “Although the fruits once existed as a civilization to the West – to Europe, and SUSTAINABILITY “reality”, they have become mythic subjects, to the East – to Japan and China. This was whose life went on in the form of a literary made possible by the creation of the great 90 image, metaphor. In the word format, they transcontinental road that, in science, belonged to a much greater extent to the received the name of the Great Silk Road. world of representations, imaginary, than to the world real, physical” (p. 15). THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT OF SAMARKAND AND ITS ADJACENT Handicrafts, especially ceramics, as well as TERRITORIES the art of building, became increasingly important. In nearby mountain ranges The geographical location and natural Karatau, Nurata, Gobduntau, and others, gold, environment played an important role in the copper, iron, and precious stones, including formation, establishment, and sustainable turquoise, were mined. In Sogdiana, there development of Samarkand. Samarkand flourished urban settlements, among which has a variety of natural conditions. Within Samarkand was, undoubtedly, the largest its territory, very different landscapes of and busiest commercial and cultural center. Central Asia are in direct contact. The In Samarkand, a great “lead channel” was Zaravshan River basin and especially its built, which was similar to the famous middle part – the Zaravshan valley, where aqueducts of Rome. Samarkand is located, has been one of the centers of the world’s civilization; from ancient Extremely favorable geographical position, time it was considered one of the best areas the relatively cool climate, abundant for settlement. The territory of the city, which natural sources with excellent water, which lies in the center of the Zaravshan basin, is is not without reason called Samarkand at the junction of the two landscapes: the “Obi-Rahmat” – “mercy water”, the proximity northern part is in the terraced alluvial plain of the mountains with abundant game, of the Zaravshan River valley, the southern the large Zaravshan River running nearby part is in the proluvial inclined plain. From that served, from time immemorial, for the south, the city borders (15–20 km) with timber rafting from the mountains – all the powerful mountains of the Zaravshan this provided favorable conditions for Range; from the north and north-east – the human settlements in the area where a Turkestan Range and its continuation, i.e., few centuries before our era, fortifications, the Gobduntou and Karagchitou. castles, stately buildings, and Samarkand mosques emerged. The middle part of the Zaravshan valley is generally flat and reaches, at the meridian Sogdiana and its metropolitan center – of Samarkand, 40–50 km in width. The Samarkand, in all phases of their history, mountains and their ridges, as well as the played a crucial role in the relations basin itself, are gradually declining in the between people of East and West and in direction from east to west reaching, at the establishment of trade and cultural contacts meridian of Samarkand – the Zaravshanskiy between them. Of particular significance Ridge, 1,680 m above sea level (The Ottoman- was the fact that Samarkand had a favorable Karachi Pass). gi113.indd 90 22.03.2013 11:00:43 All these above-mentioned geographical cities, castles, villages, and sites. Abundance features of Samarkand determine the of the Stone Age artifacts and their nature specificity of the natural conditions of the leave no doubt that the Zaravshan River city. The natural conditions and geographical basin was one of the most habitable areas environment of these different landscapes, of Central Asia. which has long been used by man in his productive activity, have promoted In prehistoric times, and at the dawn of concentration, in the middle of the Zaravshan civilization, people usually lived in caves valley, of economy and population. At the that were formed in the limestone due connection of mountains and plains, orographic, to the slow but continuous dissolution of SUSTAINABILITY climatic, and hydrological, (the presence of calcium carbonate in natural waters. The numerous permanent springs) conditions create northern slopes of the Zaravshan Ridge 91 the best environment for the development are composed of Zaravshan karst-forming of a diversified economy and for living. The Devonian limestones. Therefore, the development and expansion of Samarkand Zaravshanskiy mountains have abundance occurred at the contact of mountainous-plain of ancient karst caves. It is these simple middle part of the Zaravshan basin, within a vast natural factors (the cave in the limestone piedmont plain, suitable for the development and the presence of water in small canyons, of gravity irrigation that carried many tributaries forested mountain slopes, etc.) that have of the Zaravshan River (Agalyksay, Amanku- determined the location of some of the tansay, etc) to it. earliest settlements that have arisen in those ancient times when our ancestors had to find The mountain ridges that surround the shelter. For this reason, the northern slopes Zaravshan valley, affecting the circulation of of the Zaravshan mountains bordering the the atmosphere, contribute to a year-around Samarkand territory were populated from prevalence of east (26–43%) and south- ancient time and there were discovered a east (32–35%) winds that “air” the Zaravshan number of Paleolithic sites: Aman-Kutan, valley and fill it with clean mountain air. Takaliksay, Kuturbulak, Zirabulak, etc. Among Therefore, Samarkand and the surrounding them, the world-renowned man-site – areas have a relatively cool climate. Aman-Kutan cave (south of Samarkand, 40 km). It is located on the