POPULATION 25,155,000
MUSLIM 88 percent
EASTERN ORTHODOX 9 percent
OTHER 3 percent

Country Overview

Introduction

Bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, Afghanistan to the south, and Turkmenistan to the west, the Republic of Uzbekistan is Central Asia's most populous country. At the juncture of important ancient trade routes, Central Asia was exposed to ideologies and spiritual movements from Indian and Persian cultures. Major cities along the Silk Road included Samarqand, Bukhara, and Khiva, all of which are located in modern Uzbekistan.

Alexander the Great conquered the region in the fourth century B.C.E. Later in the sixth century C.E. Turkic nomads arrived. After a series of battles in Kharasan, Bactria, and Khoresm, Arabs began their rule in the mid-seventh century and introduced Islam to the region. By the end of the eighth century Islam was the dominant religion in Central Asia. The region was...