Uzbeks
 |
|
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| c. 30 million | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Uzbekistan
|
23,929,309 (2013) |
 Afghanistan
|
2,799,726 (2013) |
 Tajikistan
|
1,210,236 (2013) |
 Kyrgyzstan
|
980,000 |
 Russia
|
499,862 |
 Kazakhstan
|
490,000 |
 Saudi Arabia
|
300,000 |
 Turkmenistan
|
260,000 |
 Australia
|
80,000 |
 Pakistan
|
70,133 (2005) |
 United States
|
50,795 (2014) |
 Turkey
|
45,000 |
 Ukraine
|
22,400 |
 China
|
14,800 |
 Canada
|
2,725 (2011 Census) |
 Mongolia
|
560 |
| Languages | |
| Uzbek | |
| Religion | |
| Mainly Islam (predominantly Sunni or Cultural Muslims), minority non-religious. Historically Tengriism |
|
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Uyghurs | |
The Uzbeks (Oʻzbek/Ўзбек, pl. Oʻzbeklar/Ўзбеклар) are a Turkic ethnic group; the largest Turkic ethnic group in Central Asia. They comprise the majority population of Uzbekistan but are also found as a minority group in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Russia and China. Uzbek diaspora communities also exist in Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan.
The origin of the word Uzbek remains disputed. One view holds that it is eponymously named after Oghuz Khagan, also known as Oghuz Beg, became the word Uzbek. Another states that the name means independent or the lord itself, from Oʻz (self) and the Turkic title Bek/Bey/Beg. There is another theory which holds that the pronunciation of Uz comes from one of the Oghuz Turks variously known as Uz or Uguz united with the word Bey or Bek to form uguz-bey, meaning "leader of an oguz".
Before, 5th century, what is today's Uzbekistan was part of Sogdia, mainly inhabited by Sogdians, an Indo-Iranian people. It was part of the Achaemenid Empire and later part of Sasanian Empire. From 5th to 6th century, what is today's Uzbekistan was part of the Hephthalite Empire. From 6th to 8th century, what is today's Uzbekistan was under the rule of Göktürk Khanate. Turkic and Chinese migration into central Asia occurred during the Chinese Tang Dynasty, and Chinese armies commanded by Turkic generals stationed in large parts of central Asia. But Chinese influence ended with the An Lushan rebellion. From the 9th century on, Transoxania was under the rule of Turkic Kara-Khanid Khanate, their arrival in Transoxania signalled a definitive shift from Iranian to Turkic predominance in Central Asia. Kara-Khanid ruler Sultan Satuq Bughra Khan was the first Turkic ruler to convert Islam, most people of Central Asia soon followed. In the 12th century, Transoxania was conquered by Qara Khitai (Western Liao), a sinicized Khitan dynasty, they brought to Central Asia the Chinese system of government. In the 13th century, Kara-Khanid Khanate was destroyed by the Turkic Khwarazmian dynasty, a vassal of the Qara Khitai.
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Wikipedia