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Tashkent
Yuni, Chach, Shash, Binkent, Tashkura, Tashkand, Tashkent. The more than 2000-year-old capital of Uzbekistan has so many names. First reports on Tashkent can be found in ancient Oriental chronicles dating from the second century BC., where the oasis of Tashkent is called Yuni and is described as territory belonging to the state of Kangyui. Eleventh-century scholar Abu Raihan Beruni, in his treatise «India,» explains the origin of the name thus: «Shas is derived from the name of this city in Turkish—that is, Tashkand.»
In the 16th century, Tashkent was referred to in the Russian Book of the Grand Scheme as Tashkura. However, in the following century, there is a return to more ancient Uzbek name of Tashkent, which is based on the city's topographical situation and which means «city of stone.»
Archeologists have found objects from the first centuries of the first millennium, which are evidence not only of Tashkent's wide-ranging trade activities but also of the fact that the Great Silk Road, one of the main commercial arteries of the ancient world, passed trought this city. Because of the Great Silk Road's existence, coins minted in Byzantium have been discovered in the West and coins minted in China have been discovered in the East.
The fabulous wealth of ancient Tashkent aroused the ambitions of conquerors, and, in order to preserve their city's independence, the Arabs burned it to the ground. Tashkent was a succulent morsel for the rulers of various empires: Karahanid, Herezmeshi, Mongolian, Sheibanid, Bukharan, Kokan and Russian.
Tashkent rose from the ashes and renewed itself thanks to the diligence and skills of its inhabitants. It was called the «city of bread» during the civil war in the Soviet Union and provided refuge for hundreds of thouthands of orphans whose parents perished in the course of second world war. For example, the family of blacksmith Sha'ahmad Shamahmudov took under its wing young boys and girls of various nationalities: Russian, Byelorus, Moldavian, Ukrainian, Latvian, Kazakh, Tatar and German. These unfortunate children were showered with much attention by the members of the Shamahmudov family. And there were a considerable number of families in Tashkent who took in orphans.
Another «landmark» in the city's history should be mentioned here: the earthquake of April 1966, which left more than 300,000 Tashkentians homeless. The residents of this metropolis stood their ground and three and half yeras elapsed before the devastation produced by that natural catastrophe were removed.
Since Uzbekistan attained independence, Tashkent has acquired a totally new look. The city has undergone dramatic changes. Over 200 towering cranes were operating on construction sites in various parts of this Uzbek megacity, which now has a population of over two million.
Many multinational organizations, companies, firms and banks have representative offices in Tashkent, where more than 40 countries have already established empassies.
Tashkent has become the permanent host for a variety of international exhibitions, symposiums and forums. The world conferenceon Central Asia as a nuclear-free zone attracted major global attention |
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