HISTORY FOLK OF CENTRAL ASIA IN ANTIQUITIES

Эшов Б.Ж.

профессор, Национальный университет Узбекистан

ИСТОРИЯ НАРОДОВ СРЕДНЕЙ АЗИИ В ДРЕВНОСТИ

Аннотация

Узбекский народ имеет богатое историческое прошлое, страницы его истории неразрывно связаны с историей Средней Азии, территория которой по праву считается одним из древнейших центров человеческой цивилизации. История как наука является неотъемлемым элементом духовного развития народов Узбекистана.

Ключевые слова: народ, цивилизация, история, прошлое.

Eshov B.J.

professor, National University of Uzbekistan

HISTORY FOLK OF CENTRAL ASIA IN ANTIQUITIES

Abstract

Uzbek folk has a rich history past, pages to his(its) histories indissoluble are connected with historian of the Central Asia, territory which is rightfully considered one of the antiquities center to human civilization. The History as science is an integral element of the spiritual development folk Uzbekistan.

Keywords: folk, civilization, history, past.

Uzbekistan is located in the heart of Central Asia, between two large rivers Amu Darya and Syr Darya. History of nations, living on this territory, is more than thousand years. This land became the motherland of civilization, which is perhaps one of the most ancient in the world. History of Uzbekistan is the history of individuals and great nations, bloody conquests and large rebellions; it is the history of origin of the most beautiful cities in Central Asia; it is the history of people, who wholeheartedly loved their homeland.

People settled on the territory of Uzbekistan centuries ago. They built beautiful cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva and others, which were ruined by neighboring tribes, but thanks to people’s efforts they again rose from the ashes and became much beautiful. This land was the crossroad of the Great Silk Road, connecting Asia and Europe. Here, in numerous bazaars and workshops craftsmen created fine works of art, which by the Silk Road reached the most remote parts of Europe and Asia. According to archeologists, Uzbekistan is one of the most ancient places of human habitation. It is known, that the area was inhabited long before our era, in the early Paleolithic period, according to the findings of ancient dwellings in Baysun Tau mountains and primitive tools in Samarkand. In the upper Paleolithic period this land was settled by Neanderthals; their burial place, discovered in the Teshik-Tash cave, dates back to the Moustierian culture. Particularly, archeologists discovered the burial of 8-9 years old boy that gives grounds to speak about the most ancient ritual of burial on the territory of Central Asia. The child’s body was laid into a pit, surrounded by bones of a mountain goat. Excavations show that a man of that period hunted and gathered food from natural sources. Primitive tools were made of a stone as well as wood and bones.

With the development of humanity images of life rock paintings (petroglyphs) began to appear: hunting, battles and rituals. Exploring the petroglyphs of different periods of history one can "read" the history of mankind: the domestication of animals, the first religious ideas, the emergence of weapons and much more - all this is embedded by our ancestors on the rocks. Next epoch was the Mesolithic era, 15-20 millenniums ago. Typical monuments of that period are a primitive settlement in Samarkand, upper soil layers of Machay cave of the Baysun region, rock paintings in the Shibad region and others. Developed Neolithic era is characterized by the transition to a lower stage of barbarism, as evidenced by the settlement on the western part of Kyzyl Kum desert, near Amu Darya River, settlement in Uzgun, northern part of Karakum Desert, cave dwellings in Surkhandarya region and findings in Tashkent, Fergana, Samarkand and Surkhandarya regions. Primitive pottery, shepherd cattle-breeding and weaving were developed.

The collapse of the Persian empire occurred in the 4th century BC, when the great Greek military leader Alexander the Great defeated the Persians at the Battle of Gavgamellah. In 329 BC Alexander strengthened his power in Sogdiana.

In 323 BC, after Alexander's death, Sogd became the part of the Seleucid State, founded by the Greek commander Seleucus. In 250 BC a Seleucid satrap Diodot detached from this state a separate Greco-Bactrian kingdom with the capital in Baktry. This ancient state included Margiana and Sogdiana. After Diodot Evtidem came to the power and then Demetriy became the ruler of the state. During his reign a part of India was joined to the Greco-Bactrian State. Culture and economy reached a high level of prosperity, crafts, agriculture, trade and town planning were developed and money was coined. The ancient state was centralized and, as well as the Seleucid State, it was divided into satrapies. At that time, due to the construction of the road from Seleucid State to Baktria an international trade and relations with various countries around the world were developing. Baktria was situated on the trade road of China-India (southern branch of the Silk Road).

Bronze epoch in the history of Uzbekistan includes the period from the 3rd millennium to early centuries of 1st millenniums BC. It was the epoch of transformations, formation of first states on the territory of two great rivers: Ancient Baktria and Great Khorezm. It was the period of origin of first religion in Central Asia, Zoroastrianism, and first powerful empire of Achaemenids.

During XV - XVI centuries there existed thousands of towns and roads that crossed the Asian continent and led to the West.Caravans passed by those roads, and each of the caravans was filled with exotic clothes, oriental goods and spices. Towns and cities, caravanserais gradually grown on those roads.

Numerous centres of national crafts, art schools, madrasahs, palaces and mausoleums were created there. Traders, missionaries and pilgrims traveled and brought to the region new religions, customs, the goods (glass, porcelain, soap, gunpowder) and different cultures. For centuries, Great Silk Road united countries by such peaceful acts as trading, exchange of cultural and spiritual values that are unique for the whole mankind.

A special long-term program, which includes proposals for the revival of historical heritage, was created in cooperation with UNESCO. In 1994 he was accepted Samarkand Declaration "On the revival of the Silk Road".

The main tourist road is crossed with 32 towns and cities of Central Asia. Gems of the Silk Road are Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva and cities in Fergana Valley. An exciting journey to the past will be awaiting you.

Many centuries ago the Great Silk Road that connected Europe with Asia, contributed to the development of Central Asia, and in particular, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva and Shash (modern Tashkent). This cities survive a unique flavor to the eastern cities of their area, caravanserais and medieval monuments of Islamic architecture, the latter is causing the worldwide fame that the cities of Uzbekistan, which is gradually turning into one of world tourist destinations in Asia.

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