Uzbekistan General Information - History - Ancient states
Ancient states
Thus, in early 1000 B.C. ancient territorial and tribal units emerged on the territory of Uzbekistan.
The convergence of the social-political interests becomes a peculiar feature of the ancient cultural regions of the area, let alone climatic borders and forms of existence. Predicated on the three basic factors - geographic, form of existence (otherwise can be termed as "economic"), and social - ancient state formations came on the scene on the territory of Uzbekistan. In particular, Big Khorezm was a big and powerful kingdom with a developed agriculture and state irrigation system. The settlers grew wheat, barley, and rice.
During the second half of 1000 B.C. the ancient regions of Bactria, Khorezm, and Sogdiana saw the invasion on the part of the Achaemenid tsars, and were further annexed to their huge empire as eastern provinces.
The Bactrian lands, according to ancient sources and "History" by Herodotus, occupied a special place in the Achaemenid Kingdom. The Bactrian troops are reported to have participated in vital campaigns led by Achaemenid tsars as the bravest and best trained. Bactria was also one of the richest provinces that paid levies with gold and precious stones.
The struggle of eastern provinces to obtain political sovereignty gained more momentum given their prospering economies at that time. In this regard, Bactria stood at the forefront of those events. Agriculture based on irrigation with use of water-dams and large reservoirs provided the basis for the ancient Bactrian economy.
During that period, town planning, fortification, architecture and various handicrafts also developed. Trade was expanded towards not only neighboring provinces, but also towards contiguous states. The first caravan roads were laid, which later would become the main pathways for the Great Silk Road.
The first millennium B.C. had become the time when ancient agricultural provinces of Uzbekistan began integrating with the world by qualitatively changing their social structures. And it was an important era for enriching their economic and cultural potential.
