Uzbekistan: Ethnic Groups


Figure 1.--This photograph was taken near Samarkand on a collective farm during the Soviet era (1962). We see childrenn of both Uzbeck and Russian origins.

Uzbeckistan takes its name from the dominant Uzbek people who make up the population. Multiple ethnic groups, however, live together in Uzbeckistan. This includes several Central Asian groups (Tajiks, Kazakhs, Kirghizes, Uygures, and Dungans) This is to a large extent the result of Uzbeckistan's history. Samarknd and other cities were located location on the Silk Road. As a commercial and intelectual center, Samarkand developed a remarkably diverse population. Population diversity increased evenn more as a result of incorporation in the Russian Empire and Soviet Union. Both while dominated by Russia were larger multi-eyhnic empires. Thus there are many Russians as well as other Eastern Europeans (Byelorussians, Germans, Greeks, Jews, Lithuanians, Poles, Ukrainians as well as Tatars, an Asian people living in Europe. s there are Asians from bith the Middle Wast and Far East (Azerbaijanis, Armenians, Chechens, Georgians, Iranians, Koreans, Ossetians, and Turks. Uzbeckistan has retained its ethnic diversity up to the present, but it is declining. Many Russians and other non-Uzbecks left Uzbeckistan at the time of independence nd more have left over time.

History

Uzbeckistan's diverse ethnicity is due to its long history. Samarknd and other cities were located location on the Silk Road. As a commercial and intelectual center, Samarkand developed a remarkably diverse population. Population diversity increased evenn more as a result of incorporation in the Russian Empire and Soviet Union. Both while dominated by Russia were larger multi-eyhnic empires. Thus there are many Russians as well as other Eastern Europeans (Byelorussians, Germans, Greeks, Jews, Lithuanians, Poles, Ukrainians as well as Tatars, an Asian people living in Europe. And there are Asians from both the Middle Wast and Far East (Azerbaijanis, Armenians, Chechens, Georgians, Iranians, Koreans, Ossetians, and Turks. The Uzbeck population ws only minimally changed durung the Tsarist era. Major changes occurred, however, during Soviet times. Many people from the western Soviet Union were evacuated to Central Asia, especially Uzbeckistan during World War II. This began with the Soviet aggressions as a NAZI ally (Poland, Finland, the Baltics, and Romania). Stalin ordered thousands of people removed who he thought might resist Soviet rule. Others were simply shotv or disappeared in the Gulag. When the NAZIs invaded their Soviet ally, large numbers of people were evacuated (Russians, Armenians, Byelorussians, Ukrainians, Germans, Jews, and others). Others who cooperated or Stalin thought might cooprrate with the Germans or Japanese were targeted for NKVD transportations to Central Asia (Koreans, Tatars, Chechens, and others). Many of these people eventually returnedhomem but some have renained. After the War there was considerable population movement as the Communist regime launched economic development projects throughout Central Asia. There were massive land developmnt projects. And Russian and other Soviet citizens were assigned to Central Asia as teachers, health care workers, and other technical assignments. There were also military assignments. Uzbeckistan has retained its ethnic diversity up to the present, but it is declining. Many Russians and other non-Uzbecks left Uzbeckistan at the time of independence nd more have left over time.

Specific Ethnic Groups

Uzbekistan is most populous, but not the largest, country in Central Asia. It is also the third-largest state by population in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) after Russia itself and Ukraine. The population exceeds 29 million people. About 80 percent of the total is Uzbeks. Another 10 percent are other Central Asian people (Tajiks (4,5 percent), Kazakhs (2.5 percent), Karakalpaks (2 percent), Kirghizes (1 percent), Turkmens, and others. Much of the rest of the population are is Russians (5 percent) and people from other Slavic nations.

Uzbeks

The Uzbeks are a Turkic ethnic people speaking a Turkic language and with a strongly Persian-related culture. Most are Muslims. Anthropologically the Uzbeks are of mixed ethnogeny with a Caucasoid and Mongoloid admixture. The formation of Uzbek nation is closely related with ancient nations of Central Asia: Soghdians, Bactrians, Sacks, Massagets and other tribes have been settling in Central Asian area and surrounding territories for many centuries. Many native Uzbecks were nomadic hearders. Famed Russian photographer Prokudin-Gorskii has left us wonderful images of Uzbeck nomads along with their rich carpets and yurt in the early-20th century. The term Uzbeks appeared only in the 15-16th centuries. Uzbeks comprise a large majority of Uzbekistan population, about 80 percent. Uzbeks can be found in neighboring countries of Central Asia, including Afghanistan, Kazikstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. Most Uzbeks are Muslims, primarily Sunni. The Uzbek language is the official state language. Many Uzbecks because of the Tsarist and Soviet periods can speak Russian. In some regions such as in Samarkand and Bukhara, Tajik is also widely spoken. More than half of the Uzbek population continues to live in rural areas. Uzbek families tend to be large, especially in villages.

Tajiks


Russians


Jews

There was a Jewish community in central Asia, although the origins are poorly documented. The central Asian Jews may well pre-date European Jewery. The Jewish community of Uzbeckistan may date from the destruction of the Temple and the Babylonian captivity. Or it may date from the Persian Empire that followed. Cyrus allowed the Jews to return to Palestine, but not all did. There were Jewish community within the Persian Empire. Laws about religion varied, but on the whole the Persians were tolerant toward conquered people as long as they accepted Persian authority. Of course Jews would only had to be concerned with the Persians, but with the laws and traditions of the principlities in which they lived, many of which were less tolerant than the Persians. The best known and probably oldest Jewish community in Uzbeckistan is that of Bukhara. Its origins are not documented, but it may be over 2,000 years old. Legends adscribe its origins to variously. One repor suggests Jews fleeing from persecution in Persia about 1,500 years ago. Others suggest more recent origins, merchants on the Silk Road (7th century AD). Uzbek Jews were mostly city dwealers, mostly artisans and merchants, since laws prohibited land ownership. Jews survived the various invasions that swept over the region (Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, the Sardians, the Qarakhanids, the Seljuks, the Persians, the Turks, and the Chinese). The Jews of Central Asia were for the most part not vicuiously percecuted by the Muslims as was the case in European Christendom. The famed Tsarist photographer Prokudin-Gorskii in 1911 captured a remarable image of a group of Jewish boys, in traditional dress, studying with their teacher (figure 1).







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Created: 5:09 PM 10/20/2012
Last updated: 5:09 PM 10/20/2012