Samarkand and its cultural heritage: perceptions and persistence of the Russian colonial construction of monuments

Russian colonial administration, researchers, and artists shaped Samarkand's cultural heritage by selectively designating monuments as 'historical' in the early 20th century. This study reveals how a top-down patrimonialization process, driven by Russian imperial ideology, clashed with local perceptions and European practices. By analyzing travelogues, administrative reports, memoirs, press, and artistic works, the research exposes the mechanisms behind the construction of Samarkand's heritage as a tool for colonial control. The findings highlight the persistence of these colonial narratives in modern understandings of cultural heritage.

Gorshenina, S. (2014). Samarkand and its cultural heritage: perceptions and persistence of the Russian colonial construction of monuments. Central Asian Survey, 33(2), 246–269. https://doi.org/10.1080/02634937.2014.916071