Ornamentation on Glazed Ceramics of Khorezm (13th–14th CC.)

Archaeological materials and data from written sources indicate that Khorezm had recovered from the consequences of the Mongol conquest by the second half of the 13th century. The economic life of Khorezm, which became part of the new Mongol state, the Golden Horde, began to stabilize as early as the middle of the 13th century. The left bank part of Khorezm, which became a part of the Ulus of Jochi and was at the crossroads of the world trade, was mainly experiencing growth. The left bank of the Amu Darya River saw the revival of cities and unfortified settlements. Some right bank cities located near the Amu Darya River were also rising. During the Golden Horde period, pockets of sedentary farming culture also emerged in the south of Khorezm. Ceramics production of the entire Golden Horde state developed under the strong influence of Khorezm, which played a huge role in creating the Golden Horde culture. Pottery ornamentation also changed. A characteristic feature is abundant use of underglaze greenish-black or dark turquoise painting. Ornamental motifs of medieval Khorezm material culture completely differ from ceramics of the previous periods in terms of their artistic interpretation. It was enriched by new pictorial subjects and decorating techniques, and the originality of subject compositions. The ceramics of the period under study are divided into plant, geometric, zoomorphic and epigraphic types