The English in the Steppe: The Muscovy Company on the Road to Bukhara

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The transformation of global trade routes following the European Age of  Discovery prompted European powers to seek alternatives to the traditional overland and Mediterranean trade networks. In this context, England sought to reach Asia via the northern route in order to challenge the maritime dominance of Spain and Portugal, leading to the establishment of the Muscovy Company. The Company’s activities were not limited to the development of commercial relations with Russia but also extended to the exploration of new routes to the East, particularly to China. Anthony Jenkinson’s journey to Bukhara formed part of this broader endeavour. In the light of the extant sources, this article examines Anthony Jenkinson’s journey to Bukhara, which constituted the earliest recorded English contact with the Uzbek region. It first discusses England’s eastward expansion, together with the establishment and early activities of the Muscovy Company, before examining Jenkinson’s journey to Bukhara via Russia. Drawing upon Jenkinson’s narrative, the study analyses the internal struggles within the Bukhara Khanate, regional conflicts, commercial life, the security situation, and the functioning of contemporary trade routes. Particular attention is paid to the impact of political instability and military conflicts on international trade networks. Furthermore, the article examines the author’s depictions of nomadic communities and Eastern societies and offers a critical analysis of the Eurocentric perspective reflected in his account. In this context, Jenkinson’s travelogue constitutes a valuable primary historical source that sheds light on the earliest phase of Anglo-Uzbek contacts and provides significant insights into sixteenth-century Inner Asia.