Uzbekistan, or Republic of Uzbekistan, is a double landlocked nation in Central Asia. This is because Uzbekistan is surrounded by five other landlocked nations, namely Kazakhstan in north; Kyrgyzstan in northeast; Tajikistan in southeast; Afghanistan in south; and Turkmenistan in south-west. Its capital and largest city is Tashkent. The country is part of the Turkic world, and so is a member of the Organization of Turkic States. The Uzbek language is the majority-spoken language in Uzbekistan, other languages include Russian, Tajik language, on the region of Samarkand and Bukhara. Most Uzbeks are Sunni Muslim, and Islam is the predominant religion of the country.
The first recorded settlers of the land that is now Uzbekistan were Eastern Iranian nomads, known as Scythians. Scythians founded numerous kingdoms including the ones in Khwarazm, Bactria and Sogdia between 8th–6th centuries BC; as well as in Fergana and Margiana between 3rd century BC – 6th century AD. These kingdoms were later merged into the Iranian Achaemenid Empire. After a period of Macedonian rule, it was ruled by the Iranian Parthian Empire and subsequently by historical Sasanid Empire. This continued till the quick Muslim conquest of entire Persia in the 7th century.
The Early Muslim conquests and the subsequent Sasanid Empire rule saw conversion of most of the people, including the local ruling classes, into Islam. During this period, all major cities like Samarkand, Khiva, and Bukhara began to grow rich from the ancient Silk Road trade. As a result, Uzbekistan became a center of the Islamic Golden Age, with figures such as Omar Khayyam, Muhammad al-Bukhari, al-Biruni, Avicenna, Al Khwarizmi, and Al-Tirmidhi visiting it.
The Uzbek Khwarazmian dynasty was destroyed by the Mongol invasion in the 13th century, this lead to a dominance by Turkic people over the local Uzbek. The Mongol conquest under its leader, Genghis Khan during the 13th century brought about a drastic change to the region. The Mongol invasion of Central Asia, also led to the enmass displacement of Iranian-speaking people from the region. Following his death in 1227, his empire was divided between his four sons and his family members. However, control of much of the Transoxiana region, that later became Uzbekistan, stayed in the hands of his son Chagatai Khan and later his direct descendants.
In the early 14th century, a tribal chieftain, Timur or Tamerlane in the 1380s as the dominant force in Transoxiana. Although he was not a descendant of Genghis Khan, Timur became de facto ruler of Transoxiana and proceeded to conquer all of western Central Asia, Asia Minor, Mesopotamia, Iran, Caucasus, and southern steppe region north of Aral Sea. He also invaded Russia before dying during invasion of China in 1405. Timur or Tamerlane in 14th century had established the Timurid Empire from Shahrisabz, with his capital in Samarkand. The Timurid state was quickly split into half upon the death of Timur.
The chronic internal fighting of the various Timurids branches, attracted the attention of the Uzbek nomadic tribes who were living in the region, to the north of the Aral Sea. In the year 1501, the local Uzbek forces started a campaign of invasion into Transoxiana. The country subsequently became a centre of science under the able rule of Ulugh Beg, resulting in the birth of Timurid Renaissance. Later in the 16th century the territories of the Timurid dynasty were conquered by Uzbek Shaybanids, who moved the centre of power to city of Bukhara.
The region was subsequently split into three khanates, namely the Khanate of Khiva, Khanate of Kokand and Emirate of Bukhara. A descendent of Timurid dynasty, Babur started establishing his empire by moving towards the east. This led to the foundation of Mughal Empire in Indian subcontinent in 16th century. As countries of East Asia began to develop its silk road trade with the west especially Europe; Persian cities took advantage of this commerce to become centres of trade.
Thanks to an network of cities and rural settlements in province of Transoxiana, and in the region of what is today called Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China, the Sogdian intermediaries became the wealthiest Iranian merchants. As such, due to trade on what became known as the Silk Route, Bukhara and Samarkand cities of Uzbekistan eventually became extremely wealthy cities. Starting 17th century, entire Central Asian region was gradually incorporated into the Russian Empire by the 19th century including Uzbekistan as the Russian Empire began to expand and spread into Central Asia. Tashkent, subsequently became the political center of Russian Turkestan.
The national delimitation process of 1924, resulted in creation of the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic within the Soviet Union. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Uzbekistan declared itself as an independent nation, and officially became the Republic of Uzbekistan on 31 August 1991. After becoming independent Uzbekistan declared itself as a secular state, ruled by a presidential constitutional government. The country comprises of 12 regions, including Tashkent City and one autonomous republic, Karakalpakstan.
International non-governmental human rights organisations, in recent years have often defined the country of Uzbekistan as “an authoritarian state with limited civil rights”. However, under Uzbekistan’s second president, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who came to power following the death of the first president, Islam Karimov, significant reforms have been initiated. Thanks to these continued reforms, Uzbekistan’s relations with its neighbouring countries have drastically improved. The country’s economy is gradually transitioning to become a market economy, with foreign trade policy being focused on import substitution.
In September 2017, Uzbekistan made its currency fully convertible at the prevailing market rates. Uzbekistan is a major cotton producer and exporter, globally. With the gigantic power-generation facilities from Soviet era and an ample supply of natural gas, Uzbekistan has become the largest electricity producer in Central Asia. Uzbekistan has also evolved into a major manufacturer of machinery and heavy equipment in whole of Central Asia.
Uzbekistan is one of two doubly landlocked countries in the world, the other being Liechtenstein. Due to its location; within a series of endorheic basins, no Uzbekistan river empties in to the sea. Less than 10% of the country’s territory is intensively cultivated and irrigated land. These include the river valleys, oases, and formerly Aral Sea area, which has become one of the world’s worst environmental disasters.
Uzbekistan has a rich and diverse natural environment. However, several decades of Soviet policies that pushed for increased cotton production, have resulted in a catastrophic environmental disaster scenario, with the agricultural industry of Uzbekistan being the main contributor to pollution and devastation of both air and water quality. Aral Sea, once the fourth-largest inland sea on Earth; is located few hundred kms away from Caspian Sea, the largest on earth. Its water helped in humidifying the air in the surrounding areas, as well as irrigating the vast stretches of arid land.
However, since the 1960s, when the overuse of the Aral Sea water began, the vast sea has drastically shrunk to about 10% of its original size. Diversion of the waters of Amu Darya and Syr Darya has caused intense salinization of the Aral Sea. This situation has during the past several decades, become more acute as the region has suffered tremendously from pollution caused by rampant use of insecticides and chemical fertilizers. This chemical pollution and the declining water levels have virtually killed the once-thriving fishing industry of Aral Sea. It has grounded most ships that used to work within the shores of Aral Sea. It has resulted in massive contamination of areas around the sea due to lethal salty dust.
Uzbekistan besides crude oil and natural gas mines, gold, copper and more. Well connected by road, rail and air; Uzbekistan is known for its unique culture, colorful dress, music and cuisine. Vegetation in Uzbekistan vary as per altitude. Animal life in the country’s deserts and plains includes variety of foxes, wolves, rodents, gazelles and antelopes. Uzbekistan’s cultural heritage includes magnificent monuments in the national architectural tradition, as the mausoleum of the Sāmānid ruler Ismāʿīl I in Bukhara, the mosques and mausoleums in Samarkand, built sometime between the 14th and 15th centuries, as well as many other mosques, palaces, tombs, and madrasahs.
Tourism in the country is centered around Ferghana Valley, Bukhara, Samarkand and Tashkent. The country known for its stunning buildings, tourist are attracted to visiting the nature reserves, as well as indulge in skiing, rafting, camel safari, birdwatching and more. Alcohol is freely available with nightlife being the best in Tashkent. There are numerous hotels and resorts that provide luxurious, mid-range and budget accommodation. The restaurants serve variety of unique Uzbek cuisine. The country known for its stunning grasslands and snow-capped mountains; witnessed economic development and it meant numerous shopping malls have opened up in the last few years that sell; variety of branded products. Overall, Uzbekistan is a great place to be for the tourists on an extended weekend visit.
