Как и другие первые центры человеческой цивилизации – Вавилон и Мемфис, Афины и Рим, Александрия и Византия – Самарканд был предназначен для того, чтобы пройти через многие события и потрясения. История этого города уходит в глубь тысячелетий. Археологические находки и летописные источники достоверно свидетельствуют о том, что люди жили на территории нынешнего города еще за несколько тысячелетий до нашей эры.

Особо выгодное географическое положение, сравнительно благоприятный климат, изобилие естественных источников воды, близость гор, с большим количеством животных для охоты, протекающая рядом река Зарафшан – все это стало благоприятными условиями для создания поселения на данном месте. За несколько веков до начала нашей эры здесь возвышались крепостные стены, окружившие дворцы правителей и храмы Самарканда. В исторических событиях древнего времени самым ранним упоминанием о Самарканде являются свидетельства современников и участников завоевательных походов Александра Македонского: в 329 году до нашей эры город был известен им как Мараканда.

There are cities which centuries-old history embodies the history of whole nation and countries, reflecting the way passed by many generations. Samarkand is one of the most ancient cities in the world. As other first centers of human civilization – Babylon and Memphis, Athens and Rome, Alexandria and Byzantium – Samarkand was intended to go through many events and shakes.

History of Samarkand goes back in remote days. Archeological finds and chronicle records of eyewitnesses and ancient historians allowed to establish with full reliability that a man lived on the territory of modern city many centuries before the Common Era.

Advantageous geographical location, rather favorable climate, abundance of natural springs with fine water, nearness of mountains with large wild fowl, flowing Zaravshan river – all these factors always provided favorable conditions for human settlings in that area, where strong walls, castles, majestic buildings and temples of Samarkand raised some centuries before the Commone Era.

In historical events of ancient time the earliest mention about Samarkand (also known as Marakand) dates to 329th year B.C., in descriptions of eyewitnesses and participants of conquering army of Alexandr the Great. By that time Samarkand was a big city with crowded population, developed crafts, trade, and culture. It had unassailable citadel and outside defensive wall with length of 10,5 kilometers.

According to new archeological excavations scientists concluded that Samarkand was founded much earlier than Greek-Macedonian conquer and already during the epoch of the Akhemenids State (6-4th centuries BC) it was quite developed city. Hence the “age” of Samarkand is over 2500 years, starting from the origin on the forest hill of Afrosiab, though it is far older.

Registan Square, SamarkandOver the history the city saw half-savage tribes of Sacs and Massagets, iron flanks of Greek-Macedonin army, hordes of cruel Kara-Kidani. The city resisted the destructive invasion of fanatic Arabic commanders – followers of Islam religion. Bloody hordes of Ghengis-Khan attacked its peaceful houses with fire and sword. Samarkand became the capital of Great Empire of Tamerlane, ranged from Ind River to Bosfor.

After Timur’s death all his empire came to the power of his children and grandchildren. Samarkand and surroundings devolved to Ulugbek, Timur’s grandson. Ulugbek ruled Samarkand during 40 years. For the whole history Uligbek was the most peace-loving ruler. He almost did not participate in aggressive campaigns over ruling his state. He visited other countries many times but only to study traditions, culture, and customs of those countries. He was great scientist, astronomer, and mathematician; therefore he brought many scientists from different countries for science development in his county.

14-15th centuries is the period of the Golden Age of the city. City construction is at its zenith: the city is surrounded by strong fortified wall, new streets, paved of stone, are laid through the city, blue domes of magnificent ensembles tower above the city. Most of these objects survived our days and are the main symbols of the city.

Today Samarkand like most cities of Central Asia is divided into two parts: old and new city. New part is an administrative part of the city, including industrial and cultural centers, high educational institutions. Old part of the city includes historical monuments, shops, workshops, old private houses. Generally, an excursion is held in the old part of the city. Samarkand numbers 500 thousands people. This is multinational city, more that 100 nations live in Samarkand. Samarkand takes second place in Uzbekistan by number of population and territory.

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Old Termez, especially in its citadel. The fact that Demetrius conquered northwest India and probably ruled over Sogdiana as well hastened the development of the area, as Termez was located on the most logical road between the two territories. By means of this highway, Demetrius joined the two sides of his kingdom, Gandhara and Sogdiana. And the main intermediate place between these were Termez and the river crossing through the Oxus nearby. The next Greek-Bactrian rulers, Agathocles, Evcrtatides, and Heliokles, lost Sogdiana but held on to Bactria and Gandhara. They continued to pay much attention to Termez, as the main road connecting India and Central Asia ran through it. Thus, from the early period of its existence, the two main functions of Termez were defined. They have guaranteed its importance and prosperity. They were the protection of the very important Oxus River crossing and the servicing of caravans. The military and defensive functions of Termez insured its importance in the middle ages. It was a castle that protected the northern and southern boundaries of various states. Likewise, this function of Termez is very important today. This city is the main advanced post of Uzbekistan on its southern border. The Yuehchi-Tohari created the great Empire of the Kushanids. This empire was in the same class with China, Rome and Parthia in its military power. The Kushanids realized the importance of Termez. Termez and neighbouring Kampirtepa controlled not only the roads running to the north, but also the most important trade road running from India along the valley of the Oxus, the Amu Darya, to M’argiana and Parthia. From there travellers passed over the Caspian Sea to Riona the modern Georgian city – Poti and crossed the Black Sea to Rome. Roman historian Pliniy wrote about this road, on which people carried important goods. He of it in 127 – 116 B.C. quoting Varron, and other ancient scholars who had written it. Parthian rulers realized the importance and benefits of this road. They conquered Kampirtepa in 51 – 37 B.C., in the period of Orod H’s reign. They made it the advanced post of Parthia in the east, in the valley of Oxus. In the reign of the 2nd Kushan ruler, Vima Tokto (Soter Megas), in the 2nd half of the century A.D., the Yuehchi-Tohars recaptured Termez. Under the great Kushan ruler, Kanishka (the first half of the 2nd c. A.D). Termez gained an additional function – a philosophical one.

For several centuries it served as the main centre of Buddhism in Central Asia. Missionaries travelled from Termez through the iron gates to Sogdiana on the northwest along the valley of Oxus to Margiana and to the northeast through the Pamir and Alay mountains to Serindia( (Eastern Turkestan). They carried the doctrine of the Buddha there and into China and Tibet as. Historical documents contain the names of Toharists professing Buddhism in China, including the names of people who translated Buddhist works from Sanskrit into Chinese. . The accounts of the activities and influence of these monks demonstrate that Termez boasted a productive and intellectual atmosphere in the early centuries. This was also shown when the outstanding personality Muhammad AH Hakim at-Termizi appeared. He is greatly respected in the Moslim world. He was not only a Moslim mullah, but also a distinguished scholar – theologian. His works influenced the development of sufism, in the fabric of which are some doctrines of Buddhism. It is probable that Hakim at-Termizi knew the works of the Toharist Buddhists monks, which were written in Sanskrit and in Bactrian.

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Jizzakh is located in the beautiful place. On the one hand there are severe mountains of Nurata, at the foot of which the Sanzar River flows, on the other hand there is the Hungry Steppe, which seems endless. The peculiar nature of Jizzakh features a variety of natural landscapes, which combine the unique elements of shape and climate. Favorable geographical conditions contributed to the foundation of ancient settlements and fortresses. Today you can find ruins of these settlements traveling along the Sanzar river.

Jizzakh could rightly be considered one of the busiest trade cities on the Silk Road. In the Middle Ages Mirasmand near Jizzakh was famous for the international bazaar trading with woolen fabrics and clothing, silk fabrics, jewelry and metal items and Ustrushan nephritis. For centuries, people have mined the iron ore in the Nuratau Mountains, so even today you can find remnants of ancient sites and settlements of the miners.

Jizzakh is translated from Sogdian as a fortress or small fort, which describes the history of this town. Jizzakh, like many other cities of Central Asia, had to endure a lot of conquests, but every time it was rebuilt. The Mongol invasion almost completely destroyed the fortresses of the town. During the reign of Tamerlane the town was rebuilt and became even greater than in former times. But it did not stop Sheybanikhan to destroy it during the conquest of Mawarannahr.

Today mountain woodland of Zaamin and Bakhmal with their breathtaking canyons and swift mountain streams are a paradise for active tourists and extreme enthusiasts.

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Khorezm attracts not only with numerous ruins of ancient and medieval fortresses. It can rightly be considered the homeland of one of the oldest world’s religions – Zoroastrianism. The researchers of Avesta, the holy book of Zoroastrians, believe that this ancient religion appeared on the territory of the Great Khorezm (it included Khorezm, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, until the north of Iran). There is a disagreement as to exactly where Avesta was written, but most scholars believe that it appeared on the territory of modern Khorezm.

Toprak-Kala, KarakalpakstanOne of the most interesting mysteries of the history of Ancient Khorezm is an issue about the identity of the concepts of “Aryan nation” and the Great Khorezm. The issue of the origin of the Aryans and their original habitat still remains one of the most mysterious in the history of mankind. Many nations in Asia and Europe have tried to prove their belonging to the Aryan race, but only the area of Great Khorezm matches with geographical and natural conditions specified in the Avesta as “Ariana Vaychoh” – the habitat of the Aryans.

Khorezm played a great role in the development of caravan trade, which in the Middle Ages linked different nations and countries, remote from each other by thousands of kilometers. Caravans to China and Mongolia went from Urgench, through the Kyzyl-Kum, the Syrdarya and to the east. Another trade route linked Iran and Central Asia with Eastern Europe. Urgench was the northern outpost and a major market and craft center of this route. Leaving Urgench, caravans went to far countries, road to which ran along the empty and waterless areas: to the Syr-Darya, to the Caspian Sea and, more importantly, to the countries of Bulgarians and Khazars in the north-west. Goods, imported from those countries, were brought to the Khorezm markets, and then went further along the caravan routes.

The way of trade caravans from Urgench to the north-west through the Ustyurt Plateau was very difficult because of geographical and natural conditions, but despite that every 25 – 30 km, caravanners and guards, accompanied the caravan to protect against the nomads, could find water and food for the camels and a place to sleep.

History of Khorezm is as ancient as the history of such great civilizations as Egypt, Mesopotamia and India. Khorezm is almost three thousand years old and is the oldest in Central Asia. Khorezm has unique architectural monuments, which are not inferior Egyptian pyramids and Greek temples. The culture of Khorezm is of particular interest, It is very different from culture of other regions of Central Asia.

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As far as in the ancient times the advantageous geographical location and favorable climate made Tashkent one of the main points on the Great Silk Road. As an evidence of it Uzbekistan archeologists found remains of the ancient settlement of Shashtepa, located in the southern part of modern Tashkent and irrigated by the Jun channel. They discovered ruins of defensive walls and remains of mud brick buildings. Outside defensive wall of the citadel included underground corridor and was designed with tower ledges, which were built under all fortification standards of that time. The main square of the old part of the city, Chorsu Square, appeared in the 9th century. Trade Roads led to Chorsu Bazaar from all gates and gradually transformed into shopping streets. This square was the traffic and trade center.

Tashkent. Early 20th centuryLater Chorsu square was reconstructed and now has the new appearance. The Kukildosh Madrassah was built on the square in the 16th century. Also it includes the Department Store, the Central Pharmacy, Chorsu Hotel and other modern constructions. Mahallyas (residential quarters), surrounding the square and shopping streets, were named after craftsmen and people, who lived there. For example, the Padarkush Mahallya in the Shaykhantaur district was called earlier “Buzchi Mahallya”, which means “the district of weavers” (now it is the micro-district C-13). There were other mahallyas close to Chorsu square: Arka-Kucha on the north, Dukchi, Zandjirlik on the south, Pushtibag on the west, Kudukbashi on the east. Deroz Mahallya got its name from “Degroz”-“district of foundry men”. It included 20 cast-iron workshops. Ahunguzar Mahallya in the Sebzar district meant “the district of blasksmiths” and included a great number of blacksmith’s workshops. Tokli Jallob Mahallya got its name due to cattle-traders.

Tashkent chiming clockSince Tashkent was the city of rich merchants and craftsmen, the major part of buildings were mainly caravanserais, mosques, and mausoleums. The earliest buildings that reached our time are mausoleums built along the caravan roads. They were erected in honor of saint sheikhs. These monuments of Tashkent history were not only the places of worship, begging and trading, but also the original landscape, decorating a long boring way through desert roads. Totally in Tashkent and along the routes, leading to the capital there are about ten mausoleums preserved to this day.

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