| Tashkent ... one of the largest ancient cities
in Central Asia and capital of Uzbekistan. The earliest
information about this city is dated in the Eastern annals of the 2nd century
BC. It was known as Chach during that time and there had been beautiful
palaces among green gardens and temples, with street after street of craftsmen.
Chach was famous for its metal works, woven cotton and woolen clothes,
ceramics, jewelry, gold, and precious stones from Byzantium in the
West and China in the East, as well
as for its production and exportation of weapons.
At the crossroads of international trade, this city was one of the
main centers of arts and crafts in the region. At the end of 10th and the
beginning of 12th century, people often called Chach by another name -
Tashkent, which means “the Stone Settlement”. The city’s names have changed,
as have the rulers. Conquerors came and went, but the courage and beauty
of the city remains.
After a devastating earthquake in 1966, a new Tashkent
emerged with beautiful shady parks, squares, fountains, concert and exhibition
halls. A charming mixture of the old and the new, Tashkent becomes a main
gates to Central Asia. |
