Timeline of Tajikistan

Chronology

15 events spanning the history of Tajikistan. BCE/CE dating.

1. 701 – 800

   Tajiks emerge as distinct ethnic group.

   Tajiks emerge as distinct ethnic group. Arab invaders conquer Central Asia, including what is now Tajikistan, and introduce Islam.

2. 1201 – 1300

   Genghis Khan conquers Tajikistan.

   Genghis Khan conquers Tajikistan and the rest of Central Asia, which becomes part of the Mongol Empire.

3. 1301 – 1400

   Tajikistan becomes part of Turkic ruler Tamerlane’s empire.

   Tajikistan becomes part of Turkic ruler Tamerlane’s empire.

4. 1860 – 1900

   Tajikistan divided.

   Tajikistan divided, with the north coming under Tsarist Russian rule while the south is annexed by the Emirate of Bukhara.

5. 1921

   Northern Tajikistan becomes part of the Bolshevik-designated Turkestan ASSR.

   Northern Tajikistan becomes part of the Bolshevik-designated Turkestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (ASSR), which also included Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, part of northern Turkmenistan and southern Kazakhstan.

6. 1960

   Tajikistan becomes the third largest cotton-producing republic in the Soviet Union.

   Tajikistan becomes the third largest cotton-producing republic in the Soviet Union.

7. 1991

   Supreme Soviet declares Tajikistan independent from the Soviet Union.

   Supreme Soviet declares Tajikistan independent from the Soviet Union. Rahmon Nabiyev, Communist leader during 1982-85, wins Tajikistan’s first direct presidential election with 57% of the vote; Tajikistan joins Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) following the collapse of the Soviet Union in December.

8. 1992

   Civil war.

   Anti-government demonstrations in Dushanbe escalate into civil war between pro-government forces and Islamist and pro-democracy groups which eventually claims 20,000 lives, displaces 600,000 and devastates the economy.

9. 1993

   Government re-establishes control.

   Government re-establishes control, suppresses political opposition and imposes strict media controls; Supreme Court bans all opposition parties, leaving the Communist Party of Tajikistan as the only legal party; CIS peacekeeping force deployed on Tajik-Afghan border to prevent Islamist guerrilla groups infiltrating from bases in Afghanistan.

10. 1994

    Ceasefire between government and rebels agreed.

    Ceasefire between government and rebels agreed.