Uzbekistan History is as varied and interesting as its culture and heritage. In this long journey, the country has seen the rise and fall of many empires. The Sogdians, the Macedonians, the Huns, the Mongolians, the Seljuks, the Timurids and the Khanates, all of them have been instrumental in reshaping and rediscovering the course of Uzbekistan history.
Broadly, the history of Uzbekistan can be divided into four phases:
- Early history of Uzbekistan, dating back to 2nd millennium BC to 8th century AD
- Medieval history starting from 8th century AD till the 16th century
- Russian Occupation of Uzbekistan from 17th century to the 18th century
- Emergence of The Republic of Uzbekistan
The Sogdiana, Bactria and Khwarezm were the first civilizations, who occupied the territories of Ferghana, Tashkent, Bukhara, Khorezm and Samarkand regions of Uzbekistan. Different human tools and monuments validate their existence in this region. Alexander the Great conquered Sogdiana and Bactria in 327 BC.
The medieval history of Uzbekistan, witnessed the conquest by the Muslim Arabs in the 8th century AD. The Persian Samanid dynasty established its stronghold in the area. In the year 1220, Uzbekistan and the rest of Central Asia was invaded by the fierce and aggressive Genghis Khan and his Mongol tribes. In the 1300s, the Timur's overthrew the Mongols and occupied Uzbekistan. Later on, separate Muslim states emerged, with strong ties with the neighboring Persia. During this time, the development of Uzbekistan gained a rapid pace. Fabulous mosques and madrassahs were built. Uzbekistan literature reached its zenith of glory with the emergence of well known literary figures in this period.
The main turning point of history of Uzbekistan is the Russian occupation in the year 1865. It led to the establishment of the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic. During the Soviet era Uzbekistan became a world famous cotton growing region of the world. The economy of Uzbekistan boomed because of its rich natural resources.
Finally, on August 31, 1991, Uzbekistan declared its independence from the Soviet Union. The Republic of Uzbekistan emerged as a separate entity and Ismal Karmov, the First Secretary of the Communist Party was elected the President.
The
history of Uzbekistan has profoundly influenced the economy, culture, tradition and the modern way of living of the Uzbek people. The magnificent monuments and various types of Islamic architecture speak about the rich history of Uzbekistan.
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