History of Tajikistan

The history of the peoples, states, and political and cultural changes in the territory of present-day Tajikistan, from ancient times to the modern republic.

Bactria: An ancient region of Central Asia centered on the upper Amu Darya, encompassing parts of present-day Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan. Its southern lands formed an early political and cultural center in what is now Tajikistan.
Kushan Empire: An empire that ruled parts of Central and South Asia from about the first to the third century CE. Kushan power extended into areas of present-day Tajikistan and connected them with South Asian networks.
Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic: A constituent republic of the Soviet Union from 1929 until Tajikistan became independent in 1991. Its creation established the territorial and administrative framework inherited by independent Tajikistan.
History of Uzbekistan: The history of the peoples and states in the territory of present-day Uzbekistan. The two histories overlap in Transoxiana but diverge through Soviet national boundaries.
Sogdia: An ancient Iranian-speaking region of Central Asia centered on the Zeravshan and Kashkadarya valleys. Sogdian cities and communities flourished across northern Tajikistan and linked it to long-distance trade.
Arab conquest of Transoxiana: The eighth-century campaigns that brought Transoxiana under Arab Muslim rule. The conquest introduced Islamic political authority to much of the territory now in Tajikistan.
National delimitation in Central Asia: The Soviet reorganization of Central Asia into national-territorial republics, principally in 1924–1936. It drew Tajikistan’s Soviet borders and separated Tajik communities among neighboring republics.
History of Afghanistan: The history of the peoples and states in the territory of present-day Afghanistan. The Amu Darya links their histories, while modern borders divide communities and political trajectories.
Achaemenid Empire: An ancient Persian empire, founded by Cyrus the Great, that ruled much of western and central Asia. Achaemenid rule brought parts of the region into a large imperial system.
Samanid Empire: A Persianate Muslim dynasty that ruled much of Central Asia and Iran from 819 to 999. Its rule from Bukhara fostered Persian literary culture influential in Tajik identity.

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