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Khazraty imam Mosque stands as landmark of Tashkent. It was restored from destruction. / Courtesy of Uzbek Embassy |
At its 34th session in November 2007, the UNESCO General Conference adopted a resolution to celebrate the 2,200th anniversary of Tashkent.
Tashkent enjoys an invaluable place and profound role in the history of national statehood, as well as in the social and political life of Uzbekistan. It contributed a lot to the development of world civilization, and is rightfully named as the "Gates of the Orient".
Tashkent was firstly mentioned in "Avesta" and in ancient Chinese manuscripts.
This place proved to be a happy choice because the city managed to survive in spite of all trials ― wars, sieges and invasions.
In the ancient chronicles, the city was known as Yuni, Chach, and Shash.
Judging from the accounts, the name "Tashkent" first appeared in the Turkic sources of the ninth-12th centuries.
Shash in Turkic language means stone. Kand, qand, kent, kad, kath, kud ― all meaning a city ― are derived from the Sogdian, kanda, meaning a town or a city.
 In the south part of modern Tashkent, irrigated by the Jun River, archeologists found remains of the city type-Shashtepa.
Ruins of a defensive armed wall and a round citadel built from moisturized bricks were discovered inside.
The citadel's defensive wall was designed on the outside with tower shape ledges and on the inside with a vaulted corridor. These factors mean architects took great consideration in heavily fortifying the wall.
In the ancient times, an advantageous geographical location and favorable climate made Tashkent one of the main points on the Great Silk Road.
As it is described in the annals, there had been beautiful palaces among green gardens, temples and meticulously-crafted streets.
In the capital, craftsmen were engaged in metal processing, weaving cotton and woolen clothes, as well as the manufacturing of weapons, ceramics and jewelry.
The city was a brisk trade center.
The testimonies of it are coins of the states, which were found from Byzantine in the West to China in the East.
For the period of its existence, the city survived peaks and valleys. But it always remained the crossroads of international trade and a center of culture and art.
In the Middle Ages, Tashkent became the center of an agriculture oasis, a town of handicraft and arts, a mighty fortress on the northern border with nomadic tribes. Such ancient buildings as the Barak-Khana (the residence of the Mufti ― the father of the Central Asian Muslims ― is situated there now), the Kukeldash Madrasah, the Djami mosque and the Kaffal-Shashi mausoleum still remain in the city.
In the 20th century, the city experienced two crucial events: one catastrophic and one uplifting.
First was the destructive earthquake of 1966.
The monument "Courage," constructed in the epicenter of the earthquake, reminds people of the natural disaster, which put an end to the old one-storied Tashkent.
Only "islands" of the old residential sites remain.
The ruinous city immediately busied itself with frame and panel construction work, which gave the citizens a new level of comfort.
The other event, which changed the appearance of both the capital and the country itself, was the declaration of independence of Uzbekistan in 1991.
Tall buildings made of glass and metal, highway junctions, new parks, museums, fountains, rapidly made Tashkent a modern developed international megalopolis.
 The rich cultural and spiritual heritage is reflected in the expositions of Tashkent museums.
Among them, we can point out the Museum of History of Uzbekistan with its unique numismatic collection, archeological findings and ethnographical relics.
In the museum of the Temurids, a rich collection of exhibits are displayed. They show the formation of statehood in the Uzbekistan territory in the Middle ages, as well as evidencing the development of science, culture and art relating to the epoch of Amir Temur and his heirs.
The richest collection of traditional folk art articles is presented in the Museum of Decorative and Applied Arts.
Today, Tashkent with a population of more than three million is a large economic, educational, cultural and industrial center, which produces almost everything that a contemporary person needs: from aircraft and tractors to TV sets and toys for children.
Here, the past and present clash, mixing images of old times with those of modern skyscrapers made of glass and metal, multilevel bridges, parks, museums and fountains.
Tashkent is rapidly becoming a modern developed international megalopolis.
Within the last 10 years a number of modern sport complexes, tennis courts and swimming pools have been opened.
The townspeople may spend their weekend in the Golf club on "Rokhat" lake; they can enjoy a fabulous time in "Aqua Park", or rest in one of the comfortable hotels, situated in the picturesque Chimgan foothills or on the bank of the Charvak reservoir.
Tashkent has the only metro system in Central Asia.
Tashkent Airport is the largest in the country, connecting the town to Asia, Europe and the American continents.
Under the ISESCO (Islamic Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization) decision in 2007, Tashkent the capital was called the Center of Islamic Culture. This recognition came not only from the uniqueness of the legacy of Uzbekistan, but also from what it has been doing in order to preserve and safeguard it. Uzbekistan is one of the important centers of the Muslim world, which gave the world outstanding theologists and encyclopedic scientists in secular and exact sciences.
Uzbekistan is home to over 10,000 historical architectural monuments.
Tashkent established sister city relations with such world cities as Istanbul, Seattle, Karachi, Berlin, Shanghai and Seoul.
The nation is actively preparing to commemorate this landmark date which also coincides with celebrating Independence Day on Sept 1.
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