Merv through the eyes of Nazirov lieutenant

Abstract

The article attempts to cover the trip of Lieutenant Nazirov to Merv in 1882. The result of the 2nd Akhal-Teke expedition was the seizure of the territory of Ahal. Neighboring Merv remained independent. To collect the necessary material, a study expedition is organized under the leadership of Nazirov. This trip, unfortunately, was not reflected in the scientific literature, and therefore we have decided to fill this gap. The collection of data from various sources has helped to outline both the expedition itself and to revive the complex historical atmosphere of that time.

Data about this expedition are very scarce. The report of Lieutenant Nazirov, «Routing Description of the Path», is of particular interest. A good addition is the article «Our Travelers in Merv», published in the weekly magazine «World Illustration» for 1883, as well as Nazirov’s report «Report on Lieutenant Nazirov’s trip to Merv in 1882».

The purpose of our research is a detailed analysis of the available source base for this issue. We have tried to compensate for the limited material with extracts from historiographical works. Using the method of historical-comparative analysis and comparison of available documentation, we have tried to reproduce the general historical background of that time.