Tashkent
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What is Tashkent?
Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, is also the largest city in Central Asia. It is located in the northeastern part of the country, in the Chirchiq River valley, at an elevation of 1,475 to 1,575 feet (450 to 480 metres).
Tashkent is an important economic and cultural center of Central Asia. The city lies in the most industrially developed part of Uzbekistan, and much of its industry is connected with cotton production. Tashkent has numerous higher education and research institutions, including the university founded in 1920 and the Uzbek Academy of Sciences. The city has been extensively rebuilt since the 1966 earthquake.
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Where is Tashkent located?
Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan and the largest city in Central Asia, is located in the northeastern part of the country. It lies in the Chirchiq River valley, west of the Chatkal Mountains, at an elevation of 1,475 to 1,575 feet (450 to 480 metres). Canals from the Chirchiq River intersect the city.
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What language do people speak in Tashkent?
In Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, the primary language spoken is Uzbek, which belongs to the Turkic language family. Tashkent's southern dialects have been influenced by the Tajik language. Approximately one-seventh of Uzbekistan's population speaks Russian. The population of Tashkent is primarily Uzbek, with a significant Russian minority.
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What is Tashkent known for?
Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan and the largest city in Central Asia, is known as the main economic and cultural center of the region. Situated in the Chirchiq River valley, the city has been an important trade and handicraft center since as early as the 2nd or 1st century BCE.
Tashkent is at the center of the most industrially developed part of Uzbekistan, with much of its industry connected to cotton production, including manufacturing agricultural and textile machinery and cotton textiles. The city is also known for its numerous higher education and research institutions, such as the university founded in 1920 and the Navoi Public Library.
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How has Tashkent changed over time?
Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, has transformed over time from its likely origins in the 2nd or 1st century BCE to becoming the largest city in Central Asia.
Known initially as Dzhadzh, Chachkent, Shashkent, and Binkent, it was later referred to as Tashkent, meaning "Stone Village," in the 11th century. As a trade and handicraft center on caravan routes, it was conquered by Arabs, became part of Muslim ruling lines, fell to the Mongols, and was ruled by the Timurids and Shaybānids before being annexed by the khanate of Kokand in 1809. The Russians captured it in 1865, and in 1867, it became the administrative center of Turkistan. After Soviet rule was established in 1917, Tashkent was the capital of the Turkistan Republic before the capital moved to Samarkand in 1924. In 1930, it was moved to Tashkent.
Today, Tashkent is Central Asia's main economic and cultural center with developed industries and educational institutions. The city was extensively rebuilt after the 1966 earthquake.
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What important landmarks or places can you visit in Tashkent?
Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, has many landmarks and places to visit. Located in the Chirchiq River valley, the city has been an important center of trade since as early as the 2nd or 1st century BCE.
Points of interest include:
* Barakkhan Madrasah A religious school dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries.
* Navoi Public Library A significant cultural and educational resource.
* Navoi Theatre of Opera and Ballet One of the city's numerous theaters.
* Museums, parks, and stadiums Tashkent offers a variety of cultural and recreational spaces.2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan and the largest city in Central Asia. Tashkent lies in the northeastern part of the country. It is situated at an elevation of 1,475 to 1,575 feet (450 to 480 metres) in the Chirchiq River valley west of the Chatkal Mountains and is intersected by a series of canals from the Chirchiq River. The city probably dates from the 2nd or the 1st century bce and was variously known as Dzhadzh, Chachkent, Shashkent, and Binkent; the name Tashkent, which means “Stone Village” in Uzbek, was first mentioned in the 11th century.
An important centre of trade and handicrafts on the caravan routes to Europe and East Asia, the city was conquered by the Arabs at the beginning of the 8th century and later became part of the possessions of various Muslim ruling lines before falling to the Mongols in the early 13th century. It was subsequently ruled by the Timurids and Shaybānids and then led an independent existence before being annexed by the khanate of Kokand in 1809. When it was captured by the Russians in 1865, it was a walled city of some 70,000 inhabitants and already a leading centre of trade with Russia. In 1867 it was made the administrative centre of the new governorate-general of Turkistan, and a new European city grew up beside the old native one. Soviet rule was established by Russian colonists in November 1917 after an armed uprising. Tashkent remained the capital of the new republic of Turkistan in the U.S.S.R., but when the latter was split in 1924, Samarkand became the first capital of the republic of Uzbekistan, U.S.S.R. The capital was transferred to Tashkent in 1930.
Today Tashkent is the main economic and cultural centre of Central Asia. Cotton is the chief crop of the region in which it is situated. Wheat, rice, jute, vegetables, and melons are also grown, and silkworms are bred. The city lies in the most industrially developed part of Uzbekistan, and much of its industry is in some way connected with cotton—the manufacture of agricultural and textile machinery and of cotton textiles. It also has various food-processing industries. The city’s numerous institutions of higher education and research establishments include the university, founded in 1920, and various institutes of the Uzbek Academy of Sciences, set up in 1943. Also notable is the Navoi Public Library. The city’s numerous theatres, Uzbek and Russian, include the Navoi Theatre of Opera and Ballet. There are also a Palace of the Arts and several museums, parks, and stadiums. The city has been extensively rebuilt since an earthquake in 1966 left 300,000 people homeless. A few 15th- and 16th-century religious buildings and mausoleums survive, including the Barakkhan Madrasah (religious school). Uzbeks constitute the bulk of the population, with Russians being a significant minority. Pop. (2017 est.) 2,829,300.
