Uzbekistan Map

Uzbekistan is formally known as the Republic of Uzbekistan and this is a country that is located in the Central Asian sub-region it is a little surprising that this is a country that has no access to the sea. Neighboring countries include Kyrgyzstan in the northeast, Kazakhstan in the north, Afghanistan in the south, Tajikistan in the southeast, and Turkmenistan in the southwest. Uzbekistan has no religious state, it has a presidential constitution. They are as follows; While the country’s economy has been gradually liberalized, it still remains an emerging market economy with an import substitution foreign trade policy.

History:

Uzbekistan is one of the ancient civilizations of the world and it has a very long and colourful past. The first documented people to settle in this region were nomads from the east of Iran who formed kingdoms in Bactria, Khwarazm, Fergana, Sogdia, and Margiana. It was in these early civilizations that they were able to establish great culture and trade systems. This can be explained by the fact that, with the development of the early Muslim conquests and the Samanid Empire, the ruling classes of the conquered countries converted to Islam. The outbreak of the Mongol invasion during the 13th century wiped out the local Kharezmian dynasty which was then followed by Turkic ruling over the area. A historical figure Tamerlane established the empire of Timurid in the 14th century with Samarkand as its capital. This Mongolian-moderated empire of Tamerlane was also recorded for achieving a high number of architectural splendors as well as for its contribution to the fields of art and sciences.

In the second half of the 19th century Uzbekistan and the entire Central Asia became a part of the Russian empire, Tashkent was chosen to be the political center of the Russian Turkestan. It was during this time that there was infrastructure development as well as the development of new methods of farming. After the national division in 1924, the Uzbek Sokolat Moldavian Republic was formed within the USSR. Uzbekistan became an independent country on the 31st of August 1991 and the Soviet Union dissolved a month later. After that, Uzbekistan continues its way of nation-building and a number of economic reforms.

Culture:

Uzbekistan has an extensive history and culture: Uzbeks make up more than eighty percent of the total population of the country. It has a multiethnic population and samples of autochthonous cultures comprise modern Russians, Tajiks, Kazakhs, and the Karakalpaks. Shashmaqam which is Central Asian classical music was developed in Bukhara at the end of the sixteenth century. Shashmaqam is considered to have an affinity to the Uyghur maqam and Azerbaijani Muqam. Other cultural products include dance arts that are traditional to Uzbekistan, dishes that depict the nation’s food heritage, and other related cultural products that belong to the conventional cultural identity of the nation. Popular among all self-employed businessmen, the national Uzbek dish is plov, which is meat and vegetables cooked with rice and served at any festivities.

Concerning colors, it is also worth noting that the festivals and traditions of Uzbekistan are also very colorful. Navruz the Persian New Year is very well celebrated as it symbolizes the new year during the spring season. The nation is well known for the delicate craftsmanship of articles like ceramics, textiles especially carpets, etc. The decision of Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva cities on the object of world heritage list in accordance with the World Heritage Convention and being the unique architectural and historical monuments of ancient civilization.

Language:

The official language of Uzbekistan is Uzbek which belongs to Turkic languages and is pretty close to the Uyghur language. In fact both these languages are of the Karluk branch of the Turkic language family. Uzbek has been written in Latin script since 1992 while the script of choice was the Cyrillic one in the Soviet period. This change was made within the framework of establishing the state’s and national identity, and cultural independence. Karakalpak which is another Turkic language in the Kipchak branch is used by about half a million people in the Republic of Karakalpakstan and is considered as the second official language of the region. Russian is also used in various activities throughout the country, especially in the commercial, scientific, and technological sectors.

Geography:

The climate of the country is arid, hot, and dry, and; the geographical location is within the Great African Plateau. It is a unique member of the world’s history of being a doubly landlocked nation together with Liechtenstein. Within the territory of Uzbekistan, there are irrigated lands used for intensive agriculture in the oases and on valleys of the bubbling rivers. The Aral Sea which was a fairly sized sea in the past is almost completely gone because of one of the worst environmental catastrophes. Climatization/aggravation of the impact: The Aral Sea has disastrously dried up causing several socio-economic consequences and effects on the ecological system such as the loss of occupations of fishermen and women and dust storms from the exposed sea bed.

Geographically the country can be described as having various terrains including the Kyzylkum desert, and the fertile Fergana Valley among others. The Pamir and Tien Shan mountain systems act as barriers to the rest of the neighboring countries. Irrigation and agriculture are two important aspects where Uzbekistan has benefited by many rivers out of which the two most important rivers are Amu Darya and Syr Darya. The country has also several nature reserves and national parks, where the natural beauty of the country is safeguarded with adequate conservation measures.

Economy:

The economic state of affairs of the country has been gradually shifting from a centrally planned economy to a market economy. The country has received and effected a number of economic reforms that it has adopted that are in the areas of opening up trade, business environment, and foreign investment. Some of the important industries are agriculture, mining, manufacturing industries, and the service industry. Among various resources, Uzbekistan has significant reserves of cotton, gold, and natural gas. The government has also been encouraging the growth of the tourism sector leveraging cultural and bingo tourist attractions.

Today agriculture is also an important sector as many residents of the country are involved in farming. It is one of the leading producers of cotton, which is known as ‘white gold’ There are already attempts to bring changes in agricultural activities and to diversify it away from the cotton business. Mining is another source of revenues for the country as Uzbekistan has vast resources of gold, uranium, and other kinds of metals.

Government and Politics:

Uzbekistan is an Islamic country but the government of the country is secular and operates under a presidential system of government. Uzbekistan is headed by the President who is also the head of the government; the country has a bicameral system of the Parliament, namely the Legislative chamber and the Senate. This has been brought about by important political changes that have occurred with the purpose of enhancing political performance, economic rights, as well as the administration of justice. However, there is still a lot to be desired as far as democracy and human rights are concerned especially on issues of political pluralism and freedom of speech. Over the years, the government has endeavored to increase the level of openness in political processes and to increase and improve the openness and the level of audiences.

Currently, the major trend of foreign policy in Uzbekistan is associated with Central Asian cooperation and integration. It is a member of many world organizations for example the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Education:

That’s why education in Uzbekistan is compulsory, and children of the age of seven to seventeen years are to attend school. The country has a quality education system with a systematic and peculiar emphasis on STEM in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Universities and technical colleges provide a broad spectrum of programs Students interested in higher learning enroll in one of the following programs. The changes that have been made in recent years are directed at the development of an educational system and its compliance with the international level of education. The government has also been targeting vocational training and lifelong learning in order to produce a workforce that would meet the modern economy.

Healthcare:

Today, Uzbekistan’s healthcare system can be described as rather developed and has dramatically evolved in recent years. To some extent, the government has embarked on the provision of modern health facilities, expansion of health facilities, and generally the quality offered by executing healthcare organizations. Public health has over the years targeted improving communicable diseases, maternal and child health, and non-communicable diseases. However, problems which include healthcare inequalities and constraints in the availability of resources continue to exist. To enhance primary health care and to increase enrollment in health insurance for all citizens, the country is trying to improve these two areas.

Transportation:

Currently, Uzbekistan enjoys transport infrastructure such as roads, railways, and airports. The country is located in Central Asia and is living on an ancient Silk Road thus turning into a transit point from other regions. Large cities including Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara have been put on the modern paved network of roads and rail tracks. One of the areas that the government has focused on is the development of infrastructure necessary for the growth of the economy and enhanced connection of the regions. Some of the recent undertaken include the construction of new highways, railway transport modernization, and airport expansion.

FAQs

Q.1. What is the capital of Uzbekistan?

Ans. Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan.

Q.2. What is the official name of Uzbekistan?

Ans. Uzbekistan is officially known as the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Q.3. What are the main tourist attractions in Uzbekistan?

Ans. Samarkand's Registan Square, Bukhara's Old City, Khiva's Itchan Kala fortress, and Tashkent's Amir Timur Museum.

Q.4. What is the main economy of Uzbekistan?

Ans. Agriculture, natural resources, manufacturing, and tourism.

Q.5. What are the traditional foods of Uzbekistan?

Ans. Plov, Shashlik, Manti, Shurpa, and Somsa, often served with green tea.