2006 was declared in Tajikistan as the Year of Aryan Civilization. On this occasion, numerous events took place in this republic for a whole year, designed to bring the people of the country and the whole world the truth about the deep roots of Tajik culture and about its continuity from the ancient Aryans.

Back to the roots

A return to national origins was declared the basis of the state ideology of Tajikistan under President Emomali Rahmon (he himself was called Rakhmonov until 2007, but he renamed himself and ordered all his subjects, whose names also had Russified endings, to rewrite them in the Iranian manner). At the same time, Rahmon syncretically combines Islam and respect for the ancient religion of the Iranians, Zoroastrianism, in this doctrine.

“During the Arab yoke,” writes Rahmon in his book “Tajiks in the Mirror of History”, “the conquerors made a lot of efforts to destroy the language of the conquered people. Avestan manuscripts, book depositories, temples were burned ... by the force of the sword they drove out the religion of our ancestors and imposed their own ... The Türks in the XI century, trying to conquer the Tajik state, ... adopted the principles from the Tajiks government controlled, traditions, etiquette, the Tajik language remained the state language ... Even after their conquest by nomads, Tajiks continued to play the role of civilizers in relation to their conquerors. "

In September 2006, at a solemn meeting in Dushanbe, dedicated to the celebration of the 15th anniversary of Tajikistan's independence and the Year of the Aryan civilization, Rakhmon, in particular, said: “The Aryan civilization laid the foundations for the history of our ancestors, the origin and formation of traditions of statehood, culture, and other national values Moreover, it played the role of a historical arena for the formation of self-awareness and knowledge of the world ... Today in world science the term Aryan is mainly used as an ethnic name and the name of the language of Indo-Iranian peoples ... Aryan civilization acquired world fame even before the 7th century, i.e. before the advent of the Islamic religion. "

Since then, any solemn state event in Tajikistan is not complete without an appeal to the Aryan origins. The entire training program on history, where the leading role is played by the statements of Rahmon.

There is no smoke without fire

How substantiated are the claims of modern Tajikistan to the heritage of the ancient Indo-Iranian culture? It must be admitted that ethnic continuity is really direct here. Tajiks are the people of the Iranian group. In modern science, the terms "Aryans", "Aryans" are applied only to that branch of the Indo-European family, which includes the Iranian and Indo-Aryan language groups (some also distinguish the Dardic group, which includes some small peoples of the Himalayas, Karakorum and Hindu Kush).

Iranians - ancient inhabitants Central Asia... At the latest, from the beginning of the 2nd millennium BC. they laid in this region the foundations of an agricultural civilization based on irrigation using the rivers flowing from the Tien Shan and Pamir-Alai mountains. Known in historical time under the names of Massagets, Sakas, Sogdians, etc., the Iranian peoples inhabited Central Asia until the beginning of the 6th century AD, when Turkic nomadic tribes began to invade here.

The Turks, settling in the fertile valleys of Central Asia, perceived the economic skills of the Iranians, and with them much of their culture. The Arab conquest affected the region only in religious terms, bringing Islam as a mandatory religion (Muslims zealously eradicated Zoroastrianism as a pagan religion; at the same time, their attitude towards Christianity and Judaism was always much more tolerant). Many Iranians were Turkized, but even at the beginning of the twentieth century, ethnographers distinguished Uzbeks and Sarts. The first were a semi-nomadic people. The Sarts were a sedentary population of agricultural oases, descendants of the ancient Iranian population of Central Asia, who adopted the Turkic language. Many Tajiks also lived in the cities of present-day Uzbekistan in the 1920s. The formation of the national Soviet republics caused a wave of resettlement of Uzbeks (Sarts) from Tajikistan and Tajiks from Uzbekistan.

Tajiks, of course, do not have a national monopoly on historical heritage ancient Iranians (however, they do not speak about their exclusivity, but usually emphasize their kinship with the peoples of modern Iran and Afghanistan). But they are, of course, directly involved in their civilization and culture.

Historical and contemporary parallels

The Aryan ideology of modern Tajikistan carries a strong anti-Turkic orientation. When in 1996 Rakhmonov (who still bore such a surname at that time) asked UNESCO to declare 1999 the Year of the 1100th anniversary of Tajik statehood, this provoked a protest from Uzbekistan. The fact is that this jubilee was timed to coincide with the formation of the Samanid state in Central Asia. However, the Samanid state also included the territories of modern Uzbekistan, and its capital was Bukhara. Therefore, in Tashkent, all these Aryan explorations of Dushanbe are viewed as an attempt to encroach on Uzbek territories. We have also seen that Rakhmon places the culture of the Aryans-Tajiks incomparably above the culture of the Turkic peoples.

Despite this attitude of official Tashkent, Emomali Rahmon proclaimed Tsar Ismail Samani (893-907) the founder of the first Tajik state and even named the currency of the republic, somoni, in his honor. The paradox is that Samani pursued the same policy of eliminating Zoroastrianism and implanting Islam. However, the cult of Samani, to which in today's Tajikistan majestic monuments have been erected on the site of the demolished monuments to Lenin, are essentially no different from the cult of Vladimir, the Baptist of Rus, in Russian Federation- after all, his capital was also outside of today's Russia, and he also eradicated the religion of the ancestors of the Russian people, replacing it with monotheism.

And since the word "Aryan" has a very specific ethnographic and linguistic meaning, not in any way connected with Nazi pseudoscience, it is also impossible to see fundamental differences in honoring the Aryan civilization in Tajikistan from, for example, annual holidays in honor of Slavic culture and writing.

In connection with the Aryan orientation of the Tajik state ideology, one cannot but recall that a similar experience in the twentieth century was already carried out by the Pahlavi Shah dynasty, which reigned in Iran. She also very actively promoted the heritage of the ancient Persian empires of the Achaemenids, Arshakids (Parthians) and Sassanids, and fell back to the Zoroastrian spiritual sources. The very official name of the country Iran comes from Ariana - the country of the Aryans. So Persia began to be called after its renaming, by the order of the Shah, only in 1935. All this return to the Aryan origins, as you know, ended in Iran in 1979 with the Islamic revolution. The only, but fundamental difference between modern Tajikistan and Iran: Iran until 1979 was a rapidly developing and modernizing country, and Tajikistan diligently maintains the image of a poor country in order to receive assistance from international organizations.

Islam is recognized as the official religion in Tajikistan. However, Muslim believers are divided into different religious trends.

Basically, these are Sunni and Shi'ism. This is how it happened historically ...

Before the Arab conquests at the beginning of the 7th century A.D. the main religious cults practiced by the peoples on the territory of Tajikistan were Zoroastrianism, Manichaeism, Buddhism and Hinduism, as well as Nestorian Christianity and Judaism.

The Arab invasion brought with it a complete "Islamization" of the territory, which was fully completed by the middle of the 11th century.

Scientist: who are Tajiks and where do they originate from

However, earlier, back in the 7th century AD, after the death of the Prophet Muhammad, several trends emerged in Islam, the main of which were Sunnism and Shiism.

Followers of Shiism - Shiites recognize only the fourth Caliph Ali, the Prophet Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, as well as his descendants as the legitimate successor of the Prophet Muhammad.

In turn, the Shiites are also divided into several directions.

For example, the Ismailis live mainly in the territory of Gorno-Badakhshan. It got its name from Ismail, the son of the sixth imam, the head of the Shiite community, Jafar al-Sadiq. The current head of the Ismaili community is Prince Karim Aga Khan IV (born 1936 in Geneva; resides permanently in France).

Unlike the Shiites, the Sunnis do not recognize the possibility of mediation between God and people after the death of the Prophet Muhammad, they deny the idea of ​​the special nature of Ali and the right of his descendants to imamat.

Sufism is another direction of Islam, as many say - mystical and ascetic.

Already in the XI-XII centuries, Sufi brotherhoods or orders began to arise, headed by feasts and ishans. Some of these orders exist and operate at the present time. The most famous Sufi orders are Naqshbandiya, Kubraviya, Qadiriya, Yasaviya.

On October 14, 1924, the second session of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR after the division of the Turkestan ASSR and the Bukhara SSR approved a resolution on the national-territorial demarcation of Central Asia and the formation of the Turkmen SSR, the Uzbek SSR, the Tajik ASSR as part of the Uzbek SSR, Kazakh ASSR, Kara-Kirghiz and Kara-Kalpak autonomous regions within the RSFSR. And on October 16, 1929, the Tajik ASSR was transformed into the Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic, which voluntarily became part of the USSR.

Postage stamp of the USSR 1957 / photo source: wikipedia.org

From now on, the republic was proclaimed the home of all Tajiks, the northern dialect of the Tajik-Persian language, now called Tajik (zabon-i tojik), in which Soviet-style literature was created, was declared its official language.

In the 1930s, Tajik, along with other languages ​​of the region, was first translated from the Arabic script into the Latin alphabet, and then into the Cyrillic alphabet.

"Arabs"

According to the most widespread and practically generally accepted version, the word “Tajik” is traced to the Middle Persian tāzīk (“Arab”, New Persian tāzi) or another related Iranian word (for example, Sogdian).

When the Muslim armies invaded Maverannahr in the 8th century, in addition to the Arabs, they included a large number of Iranian-speaking representatives who had recently converted to Islam. During the conquest of this region, Muslims often came into conflict with the Karluk Turks. Therefore, the Turkic population of Central Asia adopted a variant of the Iranian word täžik to denote their Muslim opponents.

The Karakhanid Turks used this term to refer to the Iranian-speaking Muslims who lived in the Amu Darya region and in Khorasan.

Maverannahr, or Transoxania, Khorasan and Khorezm on the map / photo source: wikipedia.org

For example, the historian Beykhaki reports that the word “Tajik” was adopted as an ethnonym (the name of a nation or people) - according to him, the expression “we, Tajiks” (mā tāzikān) was used at court.

The division into Turks and Tajiks since that time has become to some extent an expression of the conflict between nomads and sedentary, military power and civil bureaucracy.

Bureaucrats

The flag of Tajikistan uses the same colors as the flag of Iran, but in a different order / photo source: pixabay.com

In the literature of the Ilkhanids and Timurids (this is also characteristic of the Safavid period), this term was usually used to refer to the entire Persian-speaking population.

Who is older: Uzbeks or Tajiks

The name "Tajik" served to distinguish Persian subjects (government officials, merchants, artisans or peasants) from the ruling Turkic or Mongol elite. Thus, in the work of the Ilkhanid court historian Rashid ad-din there are expressions bitikčiān-e tāzik (“Persian secretaries”) raʿiyat-e tāzik (“Persian peasants”). This word has also been found quite often in literature since the 13th century - in Sa'di or Shah Nematullah Wali.

By the middle of the Safavid period, the term tājik became part of a clichéd formula describing the opposition between the "people of the pen" (bureaucracy) and the "people of the sword" (the military elite).

It should be noted that this confrontation was somewhat far-fetched - in history there were examples when representatives of the bureaucratic classes made a successful military career.

From profession to people

In Central Asia and Afghanistan, since about the 1400s, this word has been recorded as the name of all Persian-speaking inhabitants of these regions.

Rui Gonzalez de Clavijo, envoy of the Castilian king Enrique III to Timur, writes that the people living in this territory are called tangiquis (it seems that the Castilian emissary perceived the word tājik in this way) and speak Persian, which is somewhat different from the Persian that is used "In Persia". Gonzalez de Clavijo's remarks are corroborated by the writings of 17th century Uzbek authors.

It is interesting that already at the beginning of the twentieth century, the word tājīk was fixed to denote non-standard Persian dialects in the Fars province in order to distinguish them from the urban Persian-speaking population and nomadic Lurs.

Khan's palace in Kokand (modern Uzbekistan) / photo source: wikipedia.org

When Russian troops conquered Samarkand and Bukhara in 1868, the Persian-speaking population of these cities used the term tājik as a self-name.

The same situation was recorded in the Kokand Khanate and the Fergana Valley. And only the Soviet government in 1924, when creating the Tajik Autonomous Republic, officially approved the word "Tajik" as the nationality of all people living in this territory.

Related materials:

How does Persian differ from Tajik?

Latest news

Iranian national football team's line of defense is recognized as the strongest

Beijing: US sanctions won't stop China from cooperating with Iran

Iranian women watched a football match at the stadium for the first time in 40 years [PHOTOS]

FIFA President receives a Persian carpet featuring the 2018 World Cup

University of Chicago returns 300 "credit cards" of the Achaemenid era to Iran

Tajikistan is a mountainous country. 93% of its territory is surrounded by mountains, and faces the highest mountain systems of Central Asia: Tien Shan and Pamir. Almost half of the territory of Tajikistan is located at an altitude of more than 3000 m. Huge mountains with numerous gorges and canyons, through the base of which the streams of mountain rivers flow. It should also be noted that the mountains of Tajikistan arose in different eras.

The mountain range of the Kuraminsky ridge and the Mogoltau mountains are located far to the north of the Republic, and are part of the structural mountain structure of the western Tien Shan.

The length of the Kuraminsky ridge is almost 170 km. The highest peak (Babai-ob, 3768 m.) Is located in the northeastern part of the mountain range. A small isolated ridge Mogoltau rises in the south-west of the Kuramin mountain range, its height reaches 1623 m. Mogoltau is isolated by the Mirzarabat passage, stretches along the Syrdarya river for 40 km. The Kumenyan mountain range and the Mogoltau mountains have a height of 320 - 500 m; the left bank part - between the river and the foot of the Turkestan mountain range, gradually rises to the south up to 1000 m

Then comes the Fergana Valley.

The valley is located between the Chatkal mountain range and the Kuraminsky ridge, and the Mogoltau mountains, from the northwest between the Turkestan and Alai ranges. The height of the Fergana Valley varies from 320 m on the islands and rivers of the Syr Darya, and up to 800-1000 m.

in the foothills surrounding the valley. To the west of the Fergana Valley, there is the Hungry Steppe Plain, the largest territory located in Tajikistan. Its absolute height is 250-300 m.

The Gissar mountain ranges occupy a central place on the territory of Tajikistan and face the south of the Tien Shan, including Turkestan, Zarafshan, Gissar, Karategin and Alay mountain ranges.

They are surrounded by the Fergana Valley from the north, Gissar, Surkhobom and the Alay River from the south. The total length of the mountain ranges of this system from west to north is approximately 900 km.

Tajik people

The Turkestan ridge stretches for 200 km. between the Fergana and Zarafshan valleys. Reaching a great height in the eastern part (Pyramidal peak, 5621 m), it gradually falls in the north and ends with the Nuratau mountain range in Uzbekistan. The southern and northern slopes of Turkestan are very different: the southern one is almost snowless (8-14 km); the northern slope is longer and its snow levels reach 3500-4000 m.

Glaciers are located only in the eastern part of the mountain range.

The most significant of them is Rama (20 km). The roads connecting the Zarafshan and Fergana valleys pass through the Turkestan mountain ranges, many of which are up to 4000 m and more.
The most important among them is the Shahristan Pass (3351 m).

Part of the ridge between the rivers Fandarya and Kshtut was called the Fan Mountains, which are distinguished by their complexity and colossal height (Chimtarga 5495 m).

The Gissar ridge is separated from the Zarafshan ridge, forming a watershed between the Amu Darya and Zarafshan basins. His most high point located in the eastern and middle parts (peak, has the name of the 22nd Congress The communist party Soviet Union(KPSS) - 4688 km, Kaznok peak-4491 m). The Gissar mountain range has many passes, the most significant of which is the Anzob pass (3372 m). Gissar valley (length of which is approximately 100 km.

and a width of 1.5 km. up to 24 km.) expanded at the foot. The Vakhsh valley is located in the South - 110 km., Width 7 - 25 km.

The Pamir Mountains occupy the eastern part of the Pamir mountain system, where two regions stand out: the Western Pamir and the Eastern Pamir. The border between these regions connects the Zulumart mountain range with the Usoy Dam and Yashilkul Lake.
The short and meridionally located ridge of the Academy of Sciences is considered the main component of the Pamir Mountains system, the average height of which is 5757 m.

The lowest pass Kashal-Ayak (4340 m) is located almost at the level of Mont Blanc, the highest peak of the Alps. The highest peak of this ridge - Ismoil Samoni peak (former peak of Communism) reaches 7495 m. Several glaciers flow down the slopes of the peak, merging with the Garmo glacier. In the northern part of the mountain range, there is the E. Korzhenevskaya peak (7105 m). The Western Pamir is characterized by a variety of surfaces and the contrast of its heights.

The foot of the mountain ranges is located at an altitude of 1700 - 1800 m above sea level, and rises up to 6000 m and above. From the north, the Pamirs are surrounded by the Trans-Alai Range (which is 95 km long). The highest Pamir highway, connecting the city of Osh with the center of GBAO-Khorog, passes through the Kizylart pass -4280 m. In the eastern part of the Pamir, there is the Sarykol mountain range (whose height is 5909 m), passing along the state border with China.

Details about the Pamir Mountains

Ak-Su. About 120 km south of the city of Khujand there is a wonderful mountainous area Ak-Su, famous for the beauty of untouched nature and extraordinary mountains. The peaks of some mountains "roll over" for 5000 meters. These are Ak-Su (5355 m), Block (5239 m), Iskander (5120 m) and others. These mountains are built of dense granite with small ledges and cracks. It seems almost impossible to climb them, but climbers easily climb the rocky surface, conquering new peaks.

The area's beautiful, easily accessible gorges and passes provide ideal conditions for trekking and horseback riding.

Source of the Tajik people

Tajikistan: famous locals

Here are many famous people of Tajikistan who were born, regardless of whether they lived most of their lives in this country.

• politician Abdumalik Abdullayanov, former prime minister
• painter Abdullaev Abdullaev, artistic director, cameraman
• Yusup Abdusalamov, Olympic medalist, wrestler
• Andrey Khakimovich Abduvalev, Olympic medalist, impact hammers
• singer Sharomi Abubakr
• singer Firuza Alifova
• poet Shihabuddin Am'ak
• Chess grandmaster Farrukh Amonatov
• politician Kadriddin Aslonov
• Ambassador Sirodzhidin Mukhridinovich Aslov
• Sadriddin Aini, poet, writer
• politician Yakhior Nuridinovich Azimov, former prime minister

• poet Abdumalik Bahori,
• Maulana Jalal ad-Din Muhammammi, writer, poet "Rumi", lawyer, theologian, mystic
• singer Nargis Bandishoeva
• Hasan Baroev, Olympic medalist, wrestler
• Football coach Yuri Mikhailovich Baturenko
• painter Murivat Behnazarov
• Abu Raikhan al-Biruni, scientist, scientist
• Rasul Bokiev, Olympic champion, judoka
• poet Kiram Bukharai

• Ambassador Abdulmayid Salimovich Dostoev
• boxer Sherali Dostiev
• Andrey Dragin, Alpine skier
• Oleg Fezov, musician, composer
• actress Rena Galibova, Opera singer
• Bobojon Gafurov, historian, author, academician
• singer Artur Olegovich Gladyshev
• Odbojkaš Angelina Grun
• politician Asadullo Gulomov
• painter Zukhur Khabibullaev
• poet Inoyat Hoyveyev "Farzona"
• Scientist Mamadsho Ilolov
• politician Akbarsho Iskandarov, Former incumbent president
• musician Barno Iskhakov
• swimmer Katerina Izmailova
• mathematician Abdukhamid Yuraev

• dancer Malika Kalontereva
• archer Albina Kamaletdinova
• politician Jamshed Khilolovich Karimov, former prime minister
• poet Gulnazar Keldi, author of poems for the national anthem
• politician Safarali Kenyaev
• Football coach Mahmedion Khabibulloev
• boxer Abdusal Hasanov
• the reporter Iskandar Khatloni
• Davlatman Kholov, singer, musician
• Bakhitar Khudoinazarov, director, producer, screenwriter
• Davlat Khudonazarov, Active human rights defender
• Kamal Kuyandi, poet
• mathematician Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khorezmi, astronomer, geographer
• politician Georgy Koshlakov
• Alisher Kudratov, Alpine skier
• poet Abulkasim Ahmedzade Lahuti, political activist
• Viacheslav Lampiv, Olympic medalist, hockey player
• deceiver Vladimir Landsman

• the reporter Otahon Latifi, policies
• Yuri Lobanov, Olympic medalist
• Kakhr Makhkamov, First President
• Rakhmul Khudoynazarovich Malakhbekov Olympic champion, boxer
• athlete Vladimir Eduardovich Malyavin, jumper length

Have you forgotten something?
Add famous citizens of Tajikistan

Origin of Tajiks

Tajiks are one of the ancient peoples of Central Asia. Tajiks make up the bulk of the population of Tajikistan, and a fairly large part of the population of Afghanistan.

A large Tajik diaspora has also developed in Russia and Pakistan. The Tajiks attribute their origin to the "Aryans".

According to historical research, the ancestors of the Tajiks are the sedentary and nomadic Iranian-speaking peoples (Scythians / Saks and Sarmatians), who spread across the vastness of Central Asia at the end of the 2nd and the beginning of the 1st millennium BC.

Initially, the word "Tajik" (from "tazi, tozi") the eastern Iranians (Bactrians, Sogdians, Khorezmians) meant the western Iranians (Persians) converted to Islam, who, along with the Arabs and other peoples, made early raids on their lands.

Currently, some eastern Iranians in Afghanistan and Central Asia continue to call themselves Tajiks.

How Tajiks appeared in the Iranian world

Over time, the term "Tajik" acquired a "collective" meaning for all eastern Iranian peoples, therefore, along with the Persians of western Iran, they are full-fledged heirs of the history, culture and literature of the entire Iranian world.

Appearance and religion of Tajiks

The outward physiognomic features of the Tajiks clearly show the main features of the Iranian type: they are usually of medium height, with broad, strong bones; their face is longer than that of the Turks, but from their wide forehead, thick cheekbones, thick nose and large mouth, one can conclude that there is a significant admixture of Turanian blood.

Tajiks have a high forehead, expressive eyes, black eyelashes, thick dark blond hair, and a thick beard.

Most Tajiks profess the Shiite Mohammedan religion, but they still retain traces of reverence for fire and sun. In terms of spiritual qualities, the Tajiks are much higher than their Tatar conquerors - the Uzbeks: Bukhara became the focus of Central Asian civilization only because there since ancient times the Tajiks constituted the overwhelming majority of the population, which, although subdued, did not cease to play the role of civilizers in relation to their rulers.

In their way of life and way of life, Tajiks are similar to the Sarts, as a result of which some scientists considered them to be one and the same tribe.

Vamberi argued that the word "sart" is the Turkish name for a Tajik.

Tajiks wikipedia
Site search.

Since ancient times, where the territory of Tajikistan is now, lived one of the most ancient peoples of the world, which is now commonly called Tajiks. However, despite such a long history of this people, now a very small number of people, not only in the world, but also in Russia, perceive the ancient history and culture of the Tajik people. In particular, this happened due to the huge number of labor migrants who came to earn money. It was they who removed from ancient people that halo of mystery. This article will reveal the picture of the origin of the Tajik people, as well as its formation to the present day.

Neolithic era

In 1980, excavations were carried out on the territory of the Kulyab region. It was they who gave the world the knowledge that ancient history Tajiks begins in the Neolithic era, which was about 500 thousand years ago. At that time, some of the first primitive people lived in this area. Gradually, they began to populate the highlands, including unique rock paintings from the early Neolithic times - more often images show fragments of hunting, since people in these places were mainly wandering hunters.

However, in addition to the hunters themselves, tribes that belong to the Hissar culture lived on the territory of modern Tajikistan. Their main activity was cattle breeding, although they did not disdain farming either. During the Bronze Age, they left numerous proofs of their existence, leaving objects of pottery, metallurgical and mining activities in the north of the country.

In the south, the history of the Tajik people is associated with agriculture and the manufacture of fine works of art from ceramics.

Bactria and Sogda

It was two tribes - the Bactrians and the Sogdians - that eventually turned into citizens of Tajikistan, who exist on this moment... Their history begins in the 1st millennium BC, when two large states were formed with a slave-owning form of government. They were called Bactria and Sogda. However, the cities themselves were weak enough, and therefore could not resist the invasion of one people - the Persians, under the leadership of the great conqueror king Cyrus, completely subjugated this people to themselves. So Tajikistan entered the huge Persian empire, which conquered vast territories.

However, even the great people of the Persians could not keep him for long. The greatest conqueror of all time, Alexander the Great, was born in the next century. The Macedonian king simply crushed the majestic Persian empire, and therefore the territory where the Tajik people lived became part of his kingdom. After his death, she passed to the heirs - the Seleucids.

Tokhars

Unfortunately, Alexander's heirs did not possess his military genius, and therefore they simply could not fully keep his empire. The king's generals tore it apart in parts. The Greco-Bactrian kingdom was also separated. However, the power of the Macedonians was completely removed from the state after the people of the country themselves rebelled against the conquerors. The Tokhara tribe had a significant influence here, which not only had a huge impact on the culture of the Tajik people, but also on its political life. Over time, the Tokhars so organically merged into the common people that they became an essential part of the Tajik nationality, which began the process of its formation. The new state changed its name - instead of Bactria, it was called Tokharistan. This happened already in the 4th century AD, so the development process took quite a long time.

Kushan Empire

In the 4th century, most of Asia, which belongs to modern Tajikistan, Afghanistan and North India, belonged to a huge empire ruled by the Kushan dynasty. The full development of the history of the Tajik people can begin precisely from this period. It was then that the true flourishing of the economy and culture began for this country. Several cultural and historical monuments of that period have survived to this day, which fully reflect the amazing fusion of Hellenistic, Indian and Central Asian art. However, even in this form, this people could not remain under one rule for a long time - the period of steppe nomadic tribes began. Already in the 6th century, the territory of the country was under the rule of the Turkic Kaganate.

Arab Caliphate

Gradually, in the 5-6 centuries, the history of the Tajik people began to go into the area of ​​feudalization. The period of feudal relations itself lasted almost until the end of the 19th century, although it was constantly changing. The largest economic recovery began just before the start of the Arab conquests, which caused great divisions between social groups. In addition, the development of culture began. Penjikent can be safely called one of the samples of culture early middle ages that exist on the territory of Central Asia - its frescoes, as well as buildings speak of an unprecedentedly high cultural level, as well as the presence of great achievements in the field of architecture and art.

However, the country simply could not exist independently. Although the people put up significant resistance to the Arab expansion, all the same, over time, Tajikistan became part of the Arab Caliphate. The conquerors, constantly fighting the rebellious people, practically destroyed their culture and cities, and also imposed huge taxes.

Samanids

The process of the end of the formation of the Tajik people ended when Tajikistan was part of the Samanid state. It was during this period that 2 cities began to come out on top - Samarkand and Bukhara, which became famous as the greatest centers of culture and science. An important role for the history of the Tajik people was played by the fact that the Western Iranian Tajik language became the dominant one, ousting all others. This made it possible to actively develop Tajik history, culture and art. Unfortunately, this led to the fact that the people living near the Pamirs took a slightly different path, since they were geographically quite isolated. Their own ethnic formations with a distinctive culture began to take shape here.

First of the rulers

It is Samani who can be considered the greatest emir of the Samanid dynasty, because he became the founder of the state. Although most of his history lies in the territory of modern Uzbekistan, he is very much revered in Tajikistan. In addition to numerous monuments, the Tajiks themselves recognize him as their first ruler. At the moment, a banknote with his image in 100 somoni is used in everyday life. In 1999, the country celebrated the 1100th anniversary of the Samanid state, where an architectural ensemble was erected in honor of Ismail Samani.

Conquest period

For the next several centuries, the territory of modern Tajikistan passed from one state to another, it was constantly conquered. All this did not allow Tajikistan to establish itself on the world map, to become an independent country. And in the 13th century, in addition, the invasion of the troops of the commander Genghis Khan began. Despite the fact that there was strong resistance against him, the conqueror was able to subjugate Central Asia, but this was accompanied by blood, as well as destruction. After that, the country began to be part of the Chagatai ulus of the vast Mongol empire.

An important event took place for the Tajik people during the period of conquest. The Turks and Mongols began to penetrate into their ethnic group, which led to the fact that Turkization began to occur in the lowland peoples, which, to a lesser extent, penetrated into the mountain tribes and cities.

Khanate period

After the death of Genghis Khan, they began to move again, but only between the khanates. In the 14th century, he became part of the state of Timur, and later of his heirs. During this period, the development of science and art, in particular astronomy and literature, took place. However, after two centuries they came under the patronage of the Uzbek khans, who constantly formed new khanates. Basically, the Tajiks were divided between the Bukhara and Kokand khanates. But this does not mean at all that the people began to live in peace - herself political situation was constantly under martial law. External and internal wars for power led to the decline of agriculture, the exploitation of people and destruction. During this period, feudal dependence simply flourished - because of huge taxes, the people went in constant debt to their feudal lord, and therefore had to perform forced labor. Culture, art, artistic Tajik word and language - everything was in an unprecedented decline.

Accession to Russia

A new round of development of the people began only in 1868. Constantly in need of new sales markets Russian empire, fighting with England, hastened the annexation of Central Asia to itself. Almost the entire emirate became part of the Turkestan General Government, which automatically deprived itself of the opportunity to conduct independent trade and diplomatic relations with other countries. became a vassal territory of Russia, and later it was annexed and Northern part modern Tajikistan in 1976. Gradually, the border was drawn between Tajikistan and Afghanistan, which were divided between England and the Russian Empire.

It must be admitted that during this period the Tajiks were under double oppression, both of their rulers and Russian emperors... That is why it was great amount popular uprisings who tried to overthrow the exploiters. However, joining Russia also had its bright moments. First of all, internecine wars stopped, and also gradually capitalism began to penetrate the country. The Tajiks gradually joined the Russian people, a mixture of Russian and Tajik words took place, and a working class began to form.

Red revolution

After the overthrow of the empire in Russia, a period of civil war began between the reds and whites. The revolution came to Bukhara with the Reds, and therefore already in 1920 the Bukhara People's Soviet Republic was formed. True, it existed for a relatively short time, and in 1924 the Tajik Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was created as part of the Uzbek SSR. Initially, it included 12 volosts, which captured Turkestan, the Eastern part of Bukhara and part of the Pamirs. However, since the Tajik ASSR was considered subordinate, the main political centers remained part of Uzbekistan. Only in 1929 this republic received the opportunity to become independent and began to be governed according to the all-Union model. But at the same time, the traditions of numerous ethnic groups simply began to be ignored, which led to the loss of many cultural values. After that, until 1991, the country remained under the rule of the USSR, but also completely became independent from the Uzbek SSR.

Culture

Despite the fact that in Tajikistan he had soviet period several prominent writers and scholars, none of them as famous as Sadriddin Aini. It was this man who became the founder of Tajik Soviet literature, as well as a prominent public figure and scientist. In addition to compiling several books on the history of Central Asia, he helped create the Samarkand State University... It was Sadriddin Aini who had the honor to be called the first president of the Academy of Sciences of the Tajik SSR, as well as to be among the deputies of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. As you can see, he left his mark not only in the culture of the country, but also in its politics.

The collapse of the USSR

Tajikistan appeared on the world map as an independent state rather late. The first step towards gaining independence was the version of the declaration of the government of the country, which was invented by the deputies, but at the same time it was formulated rather vaguely.

The second step in the struggle for independence was not taken by the government at all, but by the Rastokhez movement, which members sent to the press for information. They wrote a different version of the declaration, because they believed that they simply could not be satisfied with the government document, which contains many ambiguities. In addition to the text itself, they also posted critical comments. They proposed to use the second version of the declaration itself as the basis for the new Constitution, and therefore the text was very large-scale and contained more than 20 points that concerned not only independence, but also the state structure and branches of power in the country.

It was one of the last republics to declare its sovereignty, since the declaration itself was adopted only on August 24, 1990. The final text contained excerpts from both documents.

Tajikistan became fully independent only on September 9, 1991, when the resolution "On the State Independence of the Republic of Tajikistan" was adopted. At the moment, it is customary to celebrate the Independence Day of the Republic of Tajikistan on September 9, which is officially considered a non-working day.

Civil War

The first year after the declaration of independence, it seemed that Tajikistan and its people were gaining momentum. Accession to the CIS and the UN confirms the fact that the country began to be accepted in the international arena, but put an end to this Civil War 1992-1997. In essence, it became an intra-ethnic conflict that developed between supporters of the central government and the opposition, which united different groups. It is impossible not to admit the fact that the beginning of the war was largely laid by the clan outlook of the people themselves - the Tajiks, as well as their attitude to religion. All this was superimposed on the difficult economic situation in the country. After everything was mixed, there was an explosion - the Civil War. A mass riots in Dushanbe in 1990 only exacerbated the situation. The most fierce battles took place only in the first year after the start of the war - during this period the country was simply split into two parts, but it was completely stopped only in 1997 with the mediation of the United Nations.

Present day

Despite the fact that the Tajik SSR was recognized as one of the smallest and undeveloped, now the republic is considered a completely independent state. Unfortunately, the territory of the country is separated by mountains, which largely impedes international trade. However, despite this, the Tajiks have a rich history, considering themselves the descendants of the Persians, which in general does not contradict history, since the settlement of the country's territory began precisely from the territory of Ancient Persia.

Tajiks are the dominant nation in the country, almost 85% of all residents belong to this ethnic group. In fact, the country, which has been under the rule of other peoples for so long, is even now at the first stages of its development. Low urbanization, persistent problems with water supply and electricity, constant migration - all this significantly undermines the country. Indigenous population practically cannot find a job, which leads to the fact that young and healthy people leave their region and go to work, often completely illegally. However, given the fact that the Republic of Tajikistan appeared on political map only in 1991, it has achieved very great success with a small amount of resources.

Conclusion

As you can see, the Tajik people trace their history from ancient times, and therefore it is impossible to fully trace their movements. Answering the question of how many Tajiks now live in the world, scientists say the minimum figure is 20 million people, including the Iranian people who speak various dialects related to Perso-Tajik. They not only inhabit Tajikistan itself, but also a small part of Afghanistan. They have their own culture, culinary traditions and many other attributes. At the moment, about half a million Tajiks live and work in Russia, who are in the country illegally, although this figure is gradually decreasing.

But, despite the current political and migration situation, it is impossible not to admit that this people has a bright identity. Although it was subordinate to other states for many years, it was constantly transferred from empire to empire, but the population survived, preserved cultural monuments and is rightfully considered one of the most ancient peoples in the world, leading its history from primitive tribes. Now Tajiks are a large ethnic group, bright enough to attract attention, but not yet developed enough to take a significant place in politics and interstate trade.

The history of the emergence of the Tajik people The formation of the Tajik people was preceded by long ethnogenetic processes that began as early as the 1st millennium BC. The territory of the formation of the Tajiks was the ancient Bactria (basin of the Amudarya river), Sogdiana (basin of the Zeravshan and Kashkadarya rivers), and the Fergana valley. It was inhabited by Bactrians, Sogdians, Parkans (ancient Ferghanaians) - farmers, as well as Saka tribes who roamed the northern and eastern outskirts of this country. The Yagnobis are considered the modern descendants of the Sogdians, the Saks - the Pamir Tajiks. In the 2nd century BC. Yuezhi (or Tochars) penetrate into Bactria. One of the branches of the Sako-Tochars, the Kushans, created a powerful state (the Kushan Empire). Its weakening led in the 4th-5th centuries AD. to the invasion of Central Asia by new steppe tribes - Hephthalites, who formed a vast state that successfully fought with Sassanian Iran. With the formation in the 6th century. The penetration of Turkic ethnic elements also increased in the Turkic Kaganate. By the time of the Arab conquest in the 8th century. On the territory of modern Tajikistan, three main ethnic regions were distinguished: Sogdian - in the north, Fergana - in the northeast, and Tocharian - in the south. Arab incursions slowed down the process of the formation of the Tajik people. With the formation of the Samanid state in the 9-10th centuries. the process of the formation of the ethnic core of the Tajiks was also completed. This process was associated with the spread of the common Tajik language, which gradually replaced the languages ​​of the East Iranian group (Sogdian, Bactrian, Saka). From the end of the 10th century, the political predominance in Central Asia passed to the Turkic-speaking peoples, all new waves of Turkic, and later Mongolian tribes penetrated the area of ​​the sedentary Tajik population. The process of Turkization of Tajiks begins, especially on the plains, to a lesser extent - in the mountains and big cities(Bukhara, Samarkand, Khujand). During the times of the Tajik SSR, the Tajik language fully completed its formation. This article is from the Soviet Historical Encyclopedia 1973 release. And now we will write the same article from the Cyril and Methodius Encyclopedia for 2005. The formation of the Tajik people was preceded by long ethnogenetic processes going back to the end of the second - beginning of the first millennium BC, when Iranian-speaking tribes came from the Eurasian steppes to Central Asia. They mixed with the local tribes of the Late Bronze Age and the main population of Central Asia became Iranian-speaking. In Ancient Bactria (the Amu Darya basin), Sogd (the Zeravshan and Kashkadarya basin), the Fergana Valley, the agricultural tribes of the Bactrians, the Sogdians, the Parkan (ancient Ferghans) lived, and the Saks roamed on the northern and eastern outskirts of Central Asia. The Yagnobis are considered the descendants of the Sogdians (according to linguistic data); Saka tribes played an important role in the formation of the Pamir Tajiks. In the second century BC, the Yuezhi, or Tochars, which included the Saka tribes, penetrated into Bactria. With the formation of the Turkic Kaganate in the 6th century, the penetration of Turkic ethnic elements into Central Asia increased. By the time of the Arab conquest (8th century), there were three main ethnic areas of the future Tajik people: Sogdian in the north, Fergana in the northeast, and Tocharian in the south, whose population for many centuries retained its peculiarities in culture and everyday life. The Arab invasion slowed down the formation of the Tajik people. But with the formation of an independent state of the Samanids in the 9-10 centuries, the process of the formation of the ethnic core of the Tajiks was completed, which was associated with the spread of the common Tajik language, which became dominant in the Samanid era. In this language, Tajik culture and science are developing, and a rich literature is being formed. From the end of the 10th century, the political dominance in Central Asia passes to the Turkic-speaking peoples, new waves of Turkic, and later Mongolian tribes penetrate into the area of ​​the sedentary Tajik population; the centuries-old process of Turkization of Tajiks began, especially on the plains, to a lesser extent in the mountains and big cities. However, the Tajik language not only survived, but was the state language Turkic rulers. In 1868, the northern regions inhabited by Tajiks became part of the possessions of Russia, and the population of southern Tajikistan remained under the rule of the Bukhara Emirate. The primordial occupation of the Tajiks was agriculture, based largely on artificial irrigation, and gardening; cattle breeding was of an auxiliary nature. The Tajiks have developed crafts, including artistic ones, many of which had ancient traditions (woodcarving and alabaster, decorative embroidery). The Tajik people developed in close connection with other peoples of Central Asia. Especially close medieval history Tajiks and Uzbeks - peoples with common ethnic elements. As you can see, in modern encyclopedias, the history of the emergence of Tajiks is written in almost the same way. And now I will trace the history of the emergence of the Tajik people in my historical atlas and on the basis of the information I have collected. I'll start with deep antiquity, which many modern historians do not recognize. Who does not believe in the existence of human civilization on Earth millions of years ago, it is better to skip (not read this page) 17 million years ago the largest continent on Earth was Lemuria, it was located on the site of the modern Indian Ocean. V western part Lemuria included the modern island of Magadascar, the northern tip of Lemuria was modern Ceylon, the extreme eastern tip of Lemuria was the territory around the modern Easter Island. The southern coast of Lemuria was the coast of Antarctica. There were no other large continents on Earth, or they existed in the form of small islands. Even Tibet was an island in those days. The Pamirs and the very territory of modern Tajikistan did not exist - there was an ocean in this place. Lemuria was inhabited by the first people on earth - the first human race- asuras. Their civilization was very advanced. Later peoples were even called gods or demigods. They were tall people (up to 16-36 meters, and later - up to 6 meters). By 4 million years BC, the main part of Lemuria went under the water of the Indian Ocean. By this time, the mainland, which included Tibet, increased due to the appearance of mountains - the Himalayas and Tibet, as well as a small part northern India... By this time, the asuras were already smaller (up to 4 meters). From the mainland sinking under the water, a part of the asuras, who by this time can already be called the descendants of the asuras, began to move to the newly emerging continents - East Africa, South asia, Australia with Guinea, to the islands of Indonesia. 1 million years BC on Earth, the largest continent was the continent Atlantis, it was located in the Atlantic Ocean, other continents were not yet fully formed. Asuras continued to migrate to the east of Africa, the south of South Asia, to Australia, Guinea, and the islands of Indonesia. From 400 thousand BC, and especially quickly from 199 thousand BC, the mainland Atlantis began to go under the ocean waters, by which time the modern continents had already basically formed. Therefore, the migration of peoples (descendants of the Atlanteans) to modern continents began from Atlantis. At the same time, the mainland South Asia joined with the mainland North Asia, a vast territory appeared around the Pamirs. But even in those days, the territory of Turkmenistan, the northern part of Uzbekistan, the south of Kazakhstan were under the water of a large sea, including the Caspian and Aral seas. Most likely at this time the first inhabitants appeared on the territory of Tajikistan - these are the descendants of the Asuras. They were already short in stature (degraded, feral asuras). Their appearance was similar to the modern aborigines of Australia and the Papuans. These were the ancient Australoids. In addition to them, ancient great monkeys - Pithecanthropus - lived in these places. By 79 thousand years BC, the territory of Central Asia was already approximately similar to the modern one, only the Caspian and Aral seas were larger. And the rivers The aral sea have already appeared. Inhabitants (australoids) have increased, but still few. By this time, Pithecanthropus was replaced by a new species of ancient monkeys - Neanderthals, similar to humans because they walked on two legs all the time, but they were still monkeys. The few tribes living in Tajikistan at that time were related to the tribes of the Soan archeological culture that existed at that time in Northern India (Australoids). Since 38 thousand years BC, the mass settlement of the descendants of the Atlanteans begins throughout Eurasia, but the main stream (Turanian tribes) passed mainly from Europe to East Asia, to the area around the sea (there was a sea in the place of the Gobi desert). But part of the Turanian tribes remained on the territory of Central Asia and at that time they formed a new people - the Subareans (do not confuse them with the Aryans). The first wave of settlers from Eastern Europe to Central Asia began around 17,500 BC. These were the tribes of the Kostenkovo ​​culture, who were under pressure from other tribes in Europe. Kostenkovskaya culture was formed from a mixture of Australoids, who lived approximately in modern Voronezh region(the Grimaldi race) and the Caucasian Selet culture. The tribes of the Kostenko culture were the creators of a new people - the Dravidoids (a transitional people between Caucasians and Australoids). By 16500, the Dravidoids completely ousted the Subareans from the territory of Central Asia, as well as from the territory of modern Tajikistan. By 14500 BC, the Dravidoids settled (en masse) and the entire territory of modern Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. By about 7500 BC, the archaeological culture of Ali-Kosh had developed in the vast territory of Central Asia and Iran. This is the culture of the Dravidoids. They were also engaged in hunting, gathering, and fishing. By about 6500 BC, the Hissar culture developed on the territory of Tajikistan. The tribes of this culture were also Dravidoids. In the rest of Middle Asia, by about 5700 BC, the Dzheitun culture was formed (these are also Dravidoids). By about 4100 BC, the developed culture of Anau developed on the territory of Middle Asia, it is an agricultural culture and they were also Dravidoids. By this time, somewhere on the territory of western Tajikistan, eastern Turkmenistan, Afghanistan or northeastern Iran, the ancient center of all Dravidoid tribes, the sacred Aratta, had developed. It was from this center that the Dravidoids began to advance to the southeast (the Harappa civilization was created there) and to the southwest (the civilizations of Elam and Sumer were created there). Depe, the people of this culture (also Dravidoids) had already begun to build urban settlements, handicrafts, agriculture and livestock were developing. Since about 1900 BC. the tribes of the ancient Aryans (ancient Iranians and Indians) began their movement from the steppes South Urals and Kazakhstan to the south - to the territory of Middle Asia. Around 1500 BC, tribes of ancient Indians penetrated the territory of Tajikistan from the north, the Dravidoids are destroyed, assimilated or flee south to India (later, on the basis of unification with the ancient Indian population, they will create the Dravidian peoples, which will survive to this day in southern India). About 1300 BC, ancient Iranian tribes invade and populate the territory of Tajikistan. By 1100 BC, most of the territory of Tajikistan is included in the Kairakum archaeological culture (these are ancient Iranian tribes). By 600 BC, a new Iranian-speaking people, the Bactrians, had formed on the territory of Tajikistan and in the north of Afghanistan, who created their own state - Bactria. I believe that the Bactrians (and the Bactrian language) became the basis for the formation of the Tajik people (and the Tajik language). In the north of the Bactrians the Saks (Iranian tribes) roamed, west of the Bactrians lived the Sogdians (an Iranian-speaking people, akin to the Bactrians). Around 550 BC Bactria was subordinated to Achaemenid Persia, but this did not affect the Bactrians and their language in any way. Even the conquest of the territory of Bactria by Alexander the Great did not affect the Bactrians and their language. Around 250 BC, the Tocharian tribes invaded the territory of Tajikistan (these are Indo-European tribes that had lived in northwestern China and were driven out from there by the Xiongnu tribes (future Huns). One of the Tocharian tribes, the Kushans, created a powerful state - the Kushan Empire. Tokhars and Bactrians lived together and gradually, the Tochars adopted the language of the Bactrians. The country was called Tokharistan, but the language remained Bactrian (it may have included some Tocharian words). Around 450 AD, the Hephthalite tribes invaded Tajikistan (this is Iranian-speaking tribes from Kazakhstan, displaced from there by the Huns). The Ephthalites also created a large state, which also included Afghanistan and North India. The language of the Hephthalites (especially since it is strongly related to the language of the Bactrians) did not greatly change the language of the Bactrians. from the north, nomadic Turkic tribes began to invade the territory of Tajikistan.But if by 1100 the related people of the Sogdians completely lost their language, and the Sogdians themselves turned into a Turkic people, the Bactrians (future Tajiks) lived together with the Turks and retained their language, especially in large cities and mountainous regions. Later, this language became Tajik (perhaps several Turkic words came into it). By 1200, the Tajik language and the Tajik people were finally formed, almost simultaneously with it, the Turkic people, the Turkmens, and the related people, the Pashtuns (in Afghanistan), were formed. But I think that Tajiks living in mountainous areas now speak a little differently than valley Tajiks, mountain Tajiks probably have more words from Bactrians.

On October 14, 1924, the second session of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR after the division of the Turkestan ASSR and the Bukhara SSR approved a resolution on the national-territorial demarcation of Central Asia and the formation of the Turkmen SSR, the Uzbek SSR, the Tajik ASSR as part of the Uzbek SSR, Kazakh ASSR, Kara-Kirghiz and Kara-Kalpak autonomous regions within the RSFSR. And on October 16, 1929, the Tajik ASSR was transformed into the Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic, which voluntarily became part of the USSR.

From now on, the republic was proclaimed the home of all Tajiks, the northern dialect of the Tajik-Persian language, now called Tajik (zabon-i tojik), in which Soviet-style literature was created, was declared its official language. In the 1930s, Tajik, along with other languages ​​of the region, was first translated from the Arabic script into the Latin alphabet, and then into the Cyrillic alphabet.

"Arabs"

According to the most widespread and practically generally accepted version, the word “Tajik” is traced to the Middle Persian tāzīk (“Arab”, New Persian tāzi) or another related Iranian word (for example, Sogdian). When the Muslim armies invaded Maverannahr in the 8th century, in addition to the Arabs, they included a large number of Iranian-speaking representatives who had recently converted to Islam. During the conquest of this region, Muslims often came into conflict with the Karluk Turks. Therefore, the Turkic population of Central Asia adopted a variant of the Iranian word täžik to denote their Muslim opponents. The Karakhanid Turks used this term to refer to the Iranian-speaking Muslims who lived in the Amu Darya region and in Khorasan.

Persian authors of a later period (at the time of the Ghaznavids and Seljuks) used this word to refer to all Persian-speaking inhabitants of Iran, which was ruled by the Turkic dynasties for many centuries. For example, the historian Beykhaki reports that the word “Tajik” was adopted as an ethnonym (the name of a nation or people) - according to him, the expression “we, Tajiks” (mā tāzikān) was used at court. The division into Turks and Tajiks since that time has become to some extent an expression of the conflict between nomads and sedentary, military power and civil bureaucracy.

Bureaucrats

In the literature of the Ilkhanids and Timurids (this is also characteristic of the Safavid period), this term was usually used to refer to the entire Persian-speaking population. The name "Tajik" served to distinguish Persian subjects (government officials, merchants, artisans or peasants) from the ruling Turkic or Mongol elite. Thus, in the work of the Ilkhanid court historian Rashid ad-din there are expressions bitikčiān-e tāzik (“Persian secretaries”) raʿiyat-e tāzik (“Persian peasants”). This word has also been found quite often in literature since the 13th century - in Sa'di or Shah Nematullah Wali. By the middle of the Safavid period, the term tājik became part of a clichéd formula describing the opposition between the "people of the pen" (bureaucracy) and the "people of the sword" (the military elite). It should be noted that this confrontation was somewhat far-fetched - in history there were examples when representatives of the bureaucratic classes made a successful military career.

From profession to people

In Central Asia and Afghanistan, since about the 1400s, this word has been recorded as the name of all Persian-speaking inhabitants of these regions. Rui Gonzalez de Clavijo, envoy of the Castilian king Enrique III to Timur, writes that the people living in this territory are called tangiquis (it seems that the Castilian emissary perceived the word tājik in this way) and speak Persian, which is somewhat different from the Persian that is used "In Persia". Gonzalez de Clavijo's remarks are corroborated by the writings of 17th century Uzbek authors. It is interesting that already at the beginning of the twentieth century, the word tājīk was fixed to denote non-standard Persian dialects in the Fars province in order to distinguish them from the urban Persian-speaking population and nomadic Lurs.

When Russian troops conquered Samarkand and Bukhara in 1868, the Persian-speaking population of these cities used the term tājik as a self-name. The same situation was recorded in the Kokand Khanate and the Fergana Valley. And only the Soviet government in 1924, when creating the Tajik Autonomous Republic, officially approved the word "Tajik" as the nationality of all people living in this territory.