Uzbeks

The Uzbeks are a Turkic-speaking ethnic group native to Central Asia. They form the largest ethnic group in Uzbekistan and are also found in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Russia, with a large diaspora abroad. They inhabit both urban centers and rural communities, with the Fergana Valley and the Uzbek plains among their historic heartlands.

Language and identity: The Uzbek language belongs to the Karluk branch of the Turkic language family. In Uzbekistan it is written in a Latin-based script, a shift completed after independence, while Cyrillic and Persian-script influences appear in other contexts. Uzbek dialects include northern, central, and southern varieties, reflecting regional diversity.

History and origins: The Uzbeks emerged as a distinct group in medieval Central Asia. The name is linked to a historical state and confederation that rose in the 14th to 16th centuries under dynasties such as the Shaybanids, among others. Over centuries, Turkic, Persian, and local populations interacted, shaping a diverse cultural and linguistic heritage.

Culture and religion: The majority of Uzbeks are Sunni Muslims of the Hanafi school, though secular education and state policies during the Soviet era also influenced daily life. Uzbek culture is known for traditions in music, crafts, and literature, as well as cuisine (notably plov) and distinctive regional dress and crafts.

Socioeconomic context: In Uzbekistan, Uzbeks constitute the rural-urban majority and are concentrated in major cities such as Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara. Since independence, modernization, education, and economic reforms have continued alongside regional migration and diaspora communities.