Tajikistan means “country of the crown.” Taj in Persian means crown, and Tajikistan is called “the center of the world.” Since Alexander the Great conquered the Persian Empire, Tajikistan has seen many conquerors come onto its soil. The Tajiks were Aryans, the ancestors of the Indians. They were light-skinned and fair-haired, but now they have darker complexions, due to intermarriage. In the mountains and the eastern parts of the country you still see light Tajiks.

When Alexander of Macedonia subjugated Persia (BC 333-331), their Empire consisted of the lands from Egypt and Asia Minor to Tajikistan. From 90 BC to 710 AD different empires rose and fell. In 710 the Arabs conquered Tajikistan and ruled until 867 AD. From 900 to 999AD, the Samanid Empire began, and during this time period the cities of Samarkand and Bukhara were built. Tajikistan flourished, and this part of history is seen as Tajikistan’s golden age. However, it did not last.

After the Empire collapsed different invaders came and fought over control of the area. In 1218 AD, the Mongol hordes led by Genghis Khan rode through Tajikistan, pillaging and plundering all who would not surrender. However, they did not leave a long-lasting part of their culture. The Mongols intermarried with the Tajiks, and the formerly fair-haired and light-skinned people became darker. In 1370 Timur the Lame (Tamerlane) ruled Tajikistan and made Samarkand his capital. The Timurid dynasty ruled the Tajiks until 1506.