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z-bek-uh-stan, -stahn, uhz-] 
| a republic in S central Asia. 23,860,452; 172,741 sq. mi. (447,400 sq. km). Capital: Tashkent. |
Uz·bek·i·stan (ŏŏz-běk'ĭ-stān', -stän', ŭz-)  (click for larger image in new window) A country of west-central Asia. Settled in ancient times, it was conquered by Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, and Tamerlane and finally overrun by Uzbek peoples in the early 16th century. Russia conquered the area in the 19th century. Split into various administrative territories after 1917, it was consolidated as a constituent republic of the USSR in 1924. Uzbekistan declared its independence in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Tashkent is the capital and the largest city. Population: 27,800,000. |
Republic located in central-west Asia, bounded by Kazakhstan to the west and north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, Afghanistan to the south, and Turkmenistan to the southwest. Its capital and largest city is Tashkent.
Note: This former member of the Soviet Union declared its independence in 1991.
