Why is this place called Taylak? Perhaps a tale of ancient tribes will offer some clues. Taylak is more than just a name. It is a vibrant town in the heart of Samarkand. It is also a district with a rich history.
Taylak was officially established on April 9 1992. The city of Taylak is its heart. This area spans 0.28 thousand square kilometers. The population in 2016 was around 183949 residents. Interestingly, the name Taylak has tribal roots. It is derived from an Uzbek tribe. In Uzbek, there were variations such as “white taylak” and “black taylak”. The name Taylak appears in place names and people’s names.
Samarkand is only 10 km away. Taylak shares borders with Urgut, Jamboy, Bulungur and Samarkand districts. The governor of Taylak is Bobonazarov Bakhodir Kodirovich.
Imagine life in Taylak. Picture the bustling neighborhood citizen’s assemblies. There are 51 of them. Three are urban municipalities. Nine are citizen gatherings. There are 87 village settlements.
The history of Taylak is intertwined with the larger story of Samarkand. Samarkand is one of Central Asia’s oldest cities. It thrived on the Silk Road. It has been conquered by many rulers. Alexander the Great passed through. Later, it became part of the empires of Greater Iran.
Today, Samarkand is a hub of culture. It carefully preserves ancient crafts. These include embroidery, goldwork, silk weaving and more.
Modern Samarkand blends old and new. The old city holds historical monuments. The new city features administrative buildings. Samarkand’s multicultural history is still alive. You can hear Uzbek, Tajik and Russian spoken here.
The name Samarkand itself has Iranian roots. It comes from “samar” meaning stone and “kand” meaning fort.
Samarkand has seen many rulers. It was once the capital of the Sogdian satrapy. Alexander the Great conquered it in 329 BC. The city was known as Maracanda. The Greeks were impressed by its strength.
Later, the city fell under various empires. The Sassanians, Hephthalites and Turkic Khaganate all left their mark. Islam arrived in the 8th century. Samarkand became a center of Islamic learning.
Under the Samanids, Samarkand became a vital trade hub. The Karakhanids, Seljuqs and Khwarazmshahs followed. In 1220, the Mongols conquered Samarkand.
Timur, also known as Tamerlane, made Samarkand his capital in 1370. He rebuilt the city. He brought in artisans from across his empire.
In the 16th century, nomadic Uzbeks took control. The city became part of the Bukhara Khanate. Later, it fell to Nader Shah and then the Manghud Emirs.
In 1868, the Russian Empire seized Samarkand. The city became part of Russian Turkestan. It regained importance with the arrival of the Trans-Caspian railway.
From 1925 to 1930, Samarkand was the capital of the Uzbek SSR. Today, Samarkand is a major city in Uzbekistan. It connects east and west via railway.
Samarkand’s climate is semi-arid. Summers are hot. Winters are variable.
The people of Samarkand are diverse. Uzbeks and Tajiks make up the majority. Russian is also widely spoken. Islam is the dominant religion.
Samarkand is twinned with many cities. These include Agra, Balkh and Lahore. Samarkand’s story has been told in literature. It conjures up images of caravans, bazaars and ancient cultures.
From its tribal origins to its modern status, Taylak is a key part of Samarkand. It is a place where history and culture come alive.