The capital of the Republic of Uzbekistan - Tashkent, it is one of the largest cities of Central Asia.

It is located in the northeast part of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in a valley of Chirchik river, on the height 440-480 meters above sea level. Its territory makes more than 300 square kilometers.
The population of Tashkent is numbered about 2,5 million people. The basic part of the population - natives Uzbeks.

The history of the city counts more than 2000 years. For this period its name frequently changed: Uni, Shi, Chach, Shash, Binkent... For the first time under the modern name the city is mentioned in the works of scientists of the 11 century Biruni and Kashgari. "Tashkent" means “the stone city”, but in those days the basic building material in Central Asia was clay. There are some versions of an origin of the name – Tashkent.

Many scientists consider that one of the explanations of an epithet "stone" for Tashkent can be what occurs from courage and resistance of inhabitants by protection against overseas aggressors, that is quite plausible, as the city settled down on border of an oasis and nomadic steppe and was constantly an object of attacks.

In the 1-3 centuries - the territory of Chach was a part of the state Kangjuy (managed by nomadic dynasties).

In the 3-4 centuries after disintegration of Kangjuy on fine possession, Shi turns to the small independent state which in the 5 century has been won by eftalits.

In the 6th-7th centuries the city was part of the Turkic cognate - as Chach. But, despite, on the dependence from Turkic cognate - kept the language and culture. This period is marked everywhere on turcisation of the language, as in Chach has penetrated and settled the big groups of the nomadic Turkic population.

In the beginning of the 8th century Chach is exposed to devastating intrusions of the Arabian conquerors. (At this time Arabs name the city of Madinat-ash-Shash). By the 9th century on change to destruction of cities comes a process of restoration. It was time of prosperity of an economic and cultural life.

At the end of the 10th - beginning of 11th centuries the city of Binkent achieves of its apogee of the blossoming. Basis of its prosperity was the arrangement on a transit trading way, and also affinity of ore base (Chatkal and Kuramin mountains), which were actively developed. Metallurgy played the important role in craft manufacture. (Except for gold, silver there was extracted copper, iron, tin. The leading place at this time occupies weaver's craft and carpet weaving. The ceramic utensils were especially glorified.

In the beginning of the 13 century Tashkent oasis has been destroyed by the Mongolian armies of Chingiz-khan (1220). The city has been completely destroyed. Only in the 14 century its restoration begins. It was time of board of Amir Timur. During this period the city again gets value of a strong fortress, its territory extends, develops manufacture, trade, culture.

In the beginning of the 16th century the city was included in the state of Shejbanid. Tashkent has been surrounded with a new fortification. Architectural constructions has been erected, part of which was kept and to this day.

In the beginning of the 17th-18th centuries Tashkent was apple of discord between Bukhara emirate, Khivan and Kokand khanates.

And in second half of 60th years of the 19th century the militarized group of Russian empire attaches city to the territory of tsarist Russia.

In October, 1924 it has been formed in Uzbek SSR. The first capital of it was the city of Samarkand, and since 1930 - the city of Tashkent.