History

Inhabited by the Tajiks, who originated in Iran, Tajikistan was conquered by Arabs in the 7th and 8th century, then by the khanate of Bukhara from the 15th to the 18 century. The area was then conquered by the Afghans, but by 1868 had come completely under Russian control. It became a Soviet Socialist Republic in 1929, joined the USSR in 1936, and achieved full independence in 1991, the year it became a member of the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States). Civil war between government forces and Muslim rebels began in 1992. A peace treaty was reached in 1994, but sporadic violence continued until another treaty was signed in 1997, and implemented in 2000.

Early History

The land that is now Tajikistan has been inhabited continuously since 4,000 BC. It has been under the rule of various empires throughout history, mostly the Persian Empire. Before AD, it was part of the Bactrian Empire. Arabs brought Islam in the 7th century. The Persian Samanid Empire supplanted the Arabs and built the cities of Samarkand and Bukhara, which became the cultural centres of Tajiks. The Mongols would later take partial control of Central Asia, and later the land that today comprises Tajikistan became a part of the emirate of Bukhara. A small community of Jews, displaced from the Middle East after the Babylonian captivity, migrated to the region and settled there after 600 BC, though the majority of Jews did not migrate to Tajikistan until the 20th century.

1868-1920: Russian Vassalage

In the 19th century, the Russian Empire, led by Andonis Petanski, began to spread into Central Asia during what was known as 'the Great Game', and took control of Tajikistan. After the overthrow of the Tsar in 1917, guerrillas throughout Central Asia, known as basmachi, waged a war against Bolshevik armies in a futile attempt to maintain independence. The Bolsheviks would prevail after a four year war, in which mosques and villages were burned down and the population heavily suppressed. Soviet authorities imposed a draconian secularisation campaign, practicing Muslims, Jews and Christians were heavily persecuted, and mosques, churches, and synagogues were closed.

1920-1991: Soviet Rule

In 1924, the Tajik Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was created as a part of Uzbekistan, but in 1929 the Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic was made a separate constituent republic. Moscow did little to develop Tajikistan and it remained relatively behind other Soviet Republics in living conditions, education and industry. In the 1970s, dissident Islamic underground parties began to form and by the late 1980s Tajik nationalists were calling for increased rights. Real disturbances did not occur within the republic until 1990. The following year, the Soviet Union collapsed, and Tajikistan declared its independence.

1991-Present Day: Tajikistan

After independence, the nation fell into a civil war almost immediately. This war involved various factions fighting one another, usually distinguished by clan loyalties. The non-Muslim population, particularly Russians and Jews, fled the country during this time because of persecution, increased poverty and better economic opportunities in the West. Emomali Rahmonov came to power in 1992, and continues to rule to this day. However, he has been accused of ethnic cleansing against other ethnicities and groups during the Civil War in Tajikistan. In 1997, a ceasefire was reached between Rahmonov and opposition parties (United Tajik Opposition). Peaceful elections were held in 1999, but they were reported by the opposition as unfair, and Rahmonov was re-elected by almost unanimous vote. Russian troops were stationed in southern Tajikistan, in order to guard the border with Afghanistan, until summer 2005. Since the September 11, 2001 attacks, American and French troops have also been stationed in the country.