Tashkent that is the capital city of Uzbekistan is located in the west of Çatkal Mountains within the valley of Çirçik. A series of channels connected to the Çirçik River passes through the city. The first foundation of Tashkent dates back to the 2nd-1st centuries BC. Since its foundation, this city has been named with various named such as Caca, Çaçkent, Şaşkent and Binkent, etc. so far. The name of Tashkent was firstly registered in the records in the 11th century.
There are numerous research centres, academies and a university founded in the year of 1920 in this city that is the apple of eye of Central Asia. Nevai Literature Museum is an important centre. There are still 9 theatres in the city.
Nowadays, the industrial production in this city is particularly composed of the products related with cotton such as the agricultural and textile machinery, textile products, etc. Cotton being in the lead, wheat, rice, vegetables and melon are cultivated in this region. Besides silkworm breeding, sheep breeding and stockbreeding are much widespread. Tashkent that is the biggest city of the Central Asia is located on the trade routed extending towards the west and the east. Therefore, it has been the focus of interest of all the states that had been established in the course of the history.
Tashkent was captured by the Abbasi armies in the 8th century. It has been under the domination of various dynasties until the 13th century. Tashkent was captured by Kazakh people in the 16th century and it was made the capital city of them. Then, Tashkent suffered from the Mongolian invasion that terrorised the entire Central Asia in this century. Pursuant to the domination of Tamburlaines State in the city for a specific period, Tashkent was captured by Şeybani people. It protected its independent status until Hokand Khanate established dominion in Tashkent in the year of 1809.
Tashkent was invaded by the Tsarist Russia in the year of 1865. Tashkent was a city surrounded with city walls with a population of 70 thousands of people in those days and it was one of the leading trade centres of the period. Tashkent was the administrative centre of Turkestan Governorship that was founded by the Russian Empire in the year of 1867. From that date on, the city surpassed beyond the city walls and it started to develop in the new centre of population.
Due to the trees that were planted on both sides of the pavements, it is possible to walk for a long period in the pavements of the city without seeing the sky. There is also a strict architectural planning in this city. Therefore, it is not possible even to drive a rail in the city without the obtainment of the proper permission. Today, the problem of public transportation has been entirely resolved through a perfect metro system, tramcars and trolleybuses in Tashkent. There is a central heating and central hot water system in the city. Due to these systems, any problem of air pollution is scarcely observed.