Tashkent (Toshkent) is the capital of what country?

Tashkent (Toshkent) is the capital of Uzbekistan. It is the country’s largest city and its principal political, economic and cultural center.

The city lies in northeastern Uzbekistan near the border with Kazakhstan. Its location made it an important crossroads for trade and cultural exchange across Central Asia, including routes connected with the historic Silk Road. Tashkent’s name is often interpreted as meaning “stone city,” from Turkic elements related to stone and settlement.

Tashkent has a long history under several names, including Chach, Shash and Binkat. It became the capital of the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic in 1930, replacing Samarkand, and remained the capital when Uzbekistan became independent in 1991.

A common mix-up is Samarkand, another famous Uzbek city with an especially prominent Silk Road and Timurid history. Samarkand was historically important and served as a capital at different times, but modern Uzbekistan’s national capital is Tashkent.