Uzbekistan People: History, tradition and identity

Perhaps more than most nations, Uzbekistan is a product of its geography. Lying at the heart of Central Asia, it has always been at the crossroads of Eurasia. With China to the east, India to the south, Europe to the west and the endless steppe to the north, this land has always played a major role in the transfer of knowledge, commodities and political power across several millennial.

From around the 8^th century BCE, Uzbekistan was in the Iranian-speaking, Scythian orbit. Except for a relatively brief period after the arrival of Alexander the Great, Uzbekistan usually lay within the borders of Persian empires of one form or another. After playing a crucial role in the spread of Buddhism up from India and into the Orient around the first century CE, the 7^th century brought lasting and profound change. 

With the conquest of the Umayyads, Uzbekistan was transformed into a predominately Islamic country; a faith which it maintains to this day. This period is recognised as a golden age of prosperity and cultural achievement in some ways. Thanks again to its favourable geographic location, the riches of the “Silk Road” flowed into the coffers of cities like Bukara and Samarkand.

Overrun by the Mongols in the 13^th century, one of its greatest warlords is buried there in Samarkand. Timur, better known as Tamerlane in the West, is widely regarded as an Uzbek national hero. 

Absorbed into the Russian Empire in the 19^th century, Uzbekistan would have to wait until the dissolution of the Soviet Union to achieve full independence in 1991.

Given such a long, rich history of acting as a bridge between civilisations, it is hardly surprising that the Uzbeks of today carry on this heritage. For instance, a visit to the border town of Termez reveals how the centuries old tradition of silk weaving lives on. Amongst the people too, vestiges of the past remain. Whilst the population is overwhelming Uzbek, Russians, Tajiks, Kazakhs, Tartars and even Koreans are present.

Among travellers, Uzbekistan has a well-deserved reputation for offering a safe, orderly destination to explore. The people are curious, welcoming and proud of their nation’s spectacular array of attractions. Two well-known Uzbek citizens, who though making their home overseas still play a key role in promoting art and culture of the country of their birth, are husband and wife team, Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva and Timur Tillyaev.

Continuing the proud Uzbek tradition of bridging numerous spheres at once, Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva and Timur Tillyaev are promoting awareness of water scarcity and heading several philanthropic organisations.

Founded in 2002 to address a lack of educational opportunities among poor children and orphans, the You Are Not Alone foundation has assisted over 2,500 orphaned children receive a chance at good education. What’s more, a significant number of these went on to tertiary studies. This recognition of the importance of education has a long tradition in Uzbekistan; a national characteristic as old as the “Silk Road”. 

This type of social work carried out by people like Lola Tillyaeva and her husband Timur Tillyaev, embodies the values of solidarity rooted in Uzbek tradition and culture.