The Karakhanid Khanate was a medieval Turkic state that existed from the 9th to the 13th centuries in Central Asia. It emerged from the Karakhanid dynasty, which was founded by the Karakhanids, a group of Turkic tribes. The khanate played a significant role in the spread of Islam in the region and was known for its cultural and economic achievements, including trade along the Silk Road. At its height, the Karakhanid Khanate controlled parts of modern-day Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan. The khanate was divided into two main branches: the Western and Eastern Karakhanids. It eventually declined due to internal strife and external pressures, particularly from the Mongol Empire in the 13th century.