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How did Uzbek literature develop between the 9th century and the late 19th century?

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Bābur inspecting a garden, portrait miniature from the Bābur-nāmeh, 16th century; in the British Library. — Uzbek literature Bābur inspecting a garden, portrait miniature from the *Bābur-nāmeh*, 16th century; in the British Library.

The development of Uzbek literature between the 9th and 19th centuries is primarily defined by the evolution of Chagatai literature, a classical Turkic language that served as the precursor to modern Uzbek.12

The Classical Period (9th–15th Centuries)

During the 10th to 12th centuries, written literature transitioned from a Turkic script to an Arabic one, facilitating the adoption of Arabic and Persian literary forms. Early works included didactic poetry like Yusuf Khass Hajib’s Kutudgu bilig. By the 14th century, Chagatai emerged as a distinct literary medium, flourishing under the Timurid dynasty in centers like Samarkand and Herat. The 15th-century poet and statesman Ali Shir Navai elevated Chagatai to its artistic peak, establishing it as the standard for Central Asian Turkic literature.23

The Khanate Period (16th–19th Centuries)

From the 17th to the 19th century, literature developed within the independent Uzbek khanates of Bukhara, Khiva, and Kokand. While Bukhara often favored Persian, Khiva and Kokand remained significant centers for Chagatai writing. Notable figures included the historian Abu al-Ghazi Bahadur and 19th-century poets like Muhammad Agahi and Nodira. By the late 19th century, following the Russian conquest, traditional practices began shifting toward modern forms, eventually leading to the Jadid reform movement and the emergence of modern Uzbek literature.23