Tashkent History

At the beginning of the 13th century, Tashkent was captured by Genghis Khan, and a period of decline began. However, due to the influx of new people, Tashkent grew larger. And already in the 14th century, the city was conquered by Amir Timur (Tamerlane) and turned into a major fortress of the Timurid state.

In the second half of the 16th century, Tashkent became part of the Bukhara Khanate, and in 1809 it was annexed to the Kokand Khanate. It was during this period that the city grew and became the largest center of trade with Russia.

In 1865, Tashkent was taken by Russian troops, as were many areas of Central Asia. Russian settlers began the construction of the so-called New City. The Old and New City were divided by the Ankhor canal. The Old City was a concentration of craft and trade life, while the New City, formed on the site of gardens and fields, became the center of industry. At the same time, Tashkent became the main city of the Turkestan Governor-Generalship.

After the October Revolution in Russia in 1917, Tashkent was declared the capital of the Turkestan ASSR. In 1924, with the formation of the Uzbek SSR, the capital status moved to Samarkand, but in 1930 it returned to Tashkent.

During the Great Patriotic (World War II) War, Tashkent became one of the evacuation centers. Industrial production for military purposes grew rapidly in the city. Theaters, film studios, a large part of the intelligentsia, and leading figures of science and culture of Russia were evacuated from the military frontiers. Subsequently, this influenced the development of the city. During the war years, the city sheltered hundreds of thousands of people, provided them with food and shelter, and for this received the title «Tashkent — the city of bread».

In 1966, a major earthquake destroyed much of the city. The entire USSR came to Tashkent’s aid, and the city was rebuilt within a few years.

After gaining Independence in 1991, Tashkent remained the capital of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Interesting fact: In 1983, Tashkent celebrated its 2000th anniversary. And in 2009, after new archaeological research, the 2200th anniversary of the capital of Uzbekistan was celebrated.

Now Tashkent is a city with a population of more than 2 million, being one of the largest cities in Central Asia. Tashkent is a city of contrasts. Here you can see everywhere the combination of East and West: bazaars and supermarkets, mahallas and high-rise buildings, and much more.