History of Uzbekistan

Timurid Empire, 1370–1507 Draft, not yet reviewed

The Timurid Empire was a late medieval Turco-Mongol, culturally Persianate, Muslim empire that dominated Greater Iran in the early 15th century. The empire was founded by Timur, also known as Tamerlane, a warlord belonging to the Turco-Mongol Barlas tribe. Timur established the empire in 1370 and ruled it until his death in 1405. By 1507, Uzbeks under Shaybani Khan had conquered almost all of the surviving Timurid principalities, including Samarkand and Herat.

Seat of power: Samarkand

Khanate of Bukhara, 1500–1785 Draft, not yet reviewed

The Khanate of Bukhara was an Uzbek monarchy in Central Asia from 1501 to 1785, founded by the Shaybanid dynasty, a branch of the Abu'l-Khayrids. Muhammad Shaybani, grandson of the steppe ruler Abu'l Khayr Khan, conquered the major cities of Mawarannahr: Balkh, Bukhara, Samarkand, and Tashkent. Abdullah Khan II established Bukhara as its permanent capital by 1562. In 1785 Shah Murad formalized the family's dynastic rule (Manghit dynasty), and the Khanate became the Emirate of Bukhara.

Seat of power: Bukhara

Emirate of Bukhara, 1785–1920 Draft, not yet reviewed

The Emirate of Bukhara was an Uzbek absolute monarchy in Central Asia that existed from 1785 to 1920 in what is now parts of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. It occupied the land between the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers, known formerly as Transoxiana. In 1868, the emirate lost a war with Imperial Russia, which had aspirations of conquest in the region. In 1920, it ceased to exist with the establishment of the Bukharan People's Soviet Republic.

Seat of power: Bukhara

Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic, 1924–1991 Draft, not yet reviewed

The Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic was a union republic of the Soviet Union. It was governed by the Uzbek branch of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, the legal political party, from 1925 until 1990. Beginning 20 June 1990, the Uzbek SSR adopted the Declaration of State Sovereignty within its borders. On 31 August 1991, the Uzbek SSR was renamed the Republic of Uzbekistan and declared independence three months before the Soviet Union's dissolution on 26 December 1991.

Seat of power: Tashkent

Uzbekistan, 1991 to today Draft, not yet reviewed

Uzbekistan declared independence as the Republic of Uzbekistan in 1991 following the Soviet collapse. The country has a population of more than 39 million, making it the most populous country in Central Asia. It is one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world, the other being Liechtenstein. Uzbekistan comprises 12 regions (vilayats), Tashkent City, and the autonomous republic of Karakalpakstan.

Seat of power: Tashkent

Rulers

• Islam Karimov, President of Uzbekistan, 1990–2016
• Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Uzbekistan, 2016 to today