history of Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia, characterized by deserts and oases. It was the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic from 1925 to 1991 before declaring independence on October 27, 1991.1

Early human habitation in southern Turkmenistan dates back to the Neolithic period, with the development of agriculture around the 5th millennium BCE. The region was part of the Parthian empire before the arrival of the Turkmens, likely in the 11th century CE. They later came under the rule of the Seljuq dynasty and endured the Mongol invasions.2

During the Soviet era, Turkmenistan experienced fighting between Bolshevik and Social Revolutionary forces. The Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic was officially formed in 1925. While modernization occurred in education and healthcare, the period also saw political repression.3

After independence, Saparmurad Niyazov's dictatorial rule focused on a personality cult, despite the country's natural gas resources. Following his death in 2006, Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov became president.4