Short history sketch
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The formation of the earliest empire units in the region tool place between the years 2000
and 1000 B.C.The earliest written information about the population of the region refers to
640 B.C. According to tis date from assyrian sources they tell about Saks roaming from one
place to another on the left bank of Amudarya .
Apparently, afterwards
the separate parts of present Central Asia, continued to be parts of the Akhemenid empire
for more than two centuries. Being a part of Akhemenid empire, Central Asian peoples
had cultural contacts with other peoples.
In 330 B.C. pursuing
the remains of Persian troops headed by Bess, Alexander The Great crossed the Amudarya. At
this time Spitamen entered the scene, fighting against the Makedonian conqueror. He lead
the people's resistance and for three years (329-327 B.C.) he carried on a
heroic struggle. Only at the price of great bloodshed Alexander was able to suppress
the unprising of the Central Asian peoples temporarily.
When very powerful the
Greco-Baktrian kingdom included the territory of present Uzbekistan (without Khorezm and
Ferghana), Tadjikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
From the middle
of the first century A.D. up to first half of the third century
the territory of modern Uzbekistan was the part of the Kushan kingdom . the
changes of power of tribes and dynasties in Central Asia continued up to VII A.D..
By the end of the VII
A.D. , the Turkic Kaganate had lost its military power. In 670 A.D., it broke
up into two parts - the Western Turkic and the Eastern Turkic Kaganates. In
651 - 652 A.D the Arabs invaded the areas on the left bank of the Amudarya, by
674 they had crossed the river and, having established in Merv, made this city their
foothold. After the great cost of cruel and bloody conquests, by 712 A.D Kuteiba ibn
Muslim had managed to establish Arabic supremacy in Maverannahr and Khorezm. His fierce
war, which lasted for many years, became a catastrophe for the rich preMuslim culture of
Soghd and Khorezm.
In september of 1219
the Mongols battled with the troops of Khorezmshah. At that time.
Mongols also conquered Khojend, Samarkand and Bukhara in hard fought battles. Temur
Malik a talented military leader , who was Khorezmshah's relative, with elder son of
Khorezmshah Muhammad - Djalal ad-Din Mankburny offered especially heroic resistance
to the ememies during the defence of Khojend.
Mongolian dominance was
continued up to middle of XIV A.D until Amir Temur has entered the historical arena. Amir
Temur has executed some historical missions - he united the territories of the Central
Asia region. Second mission was to defeat Golden Horde/ Third missions was to defeat the
Osmanian sultan - Baiyazed. It is hard to overestimate the influence of Amir Temur on
political, ecomomical and cultural heritage of Central Asian region. For example it is the
finest monuments of architecture in Samarkand city.
After the Amir Temur his
Empire was divided in to some independent states, where the Temurids had ruled. The most
known of them is Ulughbek - the astronom, scientist.
In the second part of
XIX A.D. the territory of Uzbekistan was the part of Russian empire.
Uzbekistan as
part of USSR was founded in 1924 .
Uzbekistan in years of
Soviet authority became an industrial state with heghly developed industry
and agriculture..
But there was too much
problems in developing of agriculture and industry and they resulted in such catastrophe
as Aral catastrophe.
On the first of
September, 1991 Uzbekistan has announced the own sovereignty and has become the
independent state. Declaration by Uzbekistan of state independence, choosen way on
creation of a democratic lawful state, political stability and civil consent, the own way
of development, integration into the global economy, are the most important precondition
to increase the well - being of the people, and acts as powerful stimulus to the
decision of ecological problems.
Ecological safety of
citizens are guaranteed by the Constitution and by the nature protective legislation of
Republic of the Uzbekistan
Source: Amir
Temur in world history , United Nations Education Science And Culture Organisation
(UNESCO), Paris, 1996.
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