Tashkent

Tashkent, the capital of the Republic of Uzbekistan, is one of the oldest cities in Central Asia. The first buildings of the proto-city type appear on the territory of Tashkent in the 6th-4th centuries BC., and the first written mention of the city dates back to 262 BC. Over the centuries, name of the city have changed: Yuni, Judj, Chach, Sham, Bishkent. And only from the second half of the XI century, the city acquired the modern name "Tashkent", which is recorded in written sources. Throughout its history, entering various state formations, Tashkent remained the most important stage of the Great Silk Road, which explains the vitality of this city.

The 16th century became a turning point in the history of the city: under the rule of the kings of the Sheibanid dynasty, Tashkent from a protection fortress, which it was in the era of Amir Temur and the Timurids, turns into a real city with monumental architecture and developed culture and crafts.

In 1865, after the troops of tsarist Russia captured the city, Tashkent became the administrative center of the Turkmen general-governorship (1868-1918). Thanks to the supply of technical and material resources and fast increase in the number of engineering and technical personnel, the city begins to develop rapidly, becoming a large industrial, financial and cultural center and an important transport hub in Central Asia.

The role of Tashkent in the political, economic and cultural life of Uzbekistan in the Soviet period grew immeasurably, especially after its proclamation in 1930 as the capital of the Uzbek SSR. Tashkent was reborn after the devastating earthquake in 1966.

The independence, gained by Uzbekistan in 1991, gave Tashkent a second wind, as well as to the whole country. The city is rapidly changing its outlook, successfully combining tradition with innovation.

Today Tashkent is a huge (territory - over 300 km2, population - 2,400,000 people) cosmopolitan metropolis with a developed transport infrastructure, huge green areas of parks and rest houses, an active cultural life