The Tajiks of Central Asia are the oldest surviving people in the region. Their homeland, Tajikistan, is located in the mountainous centre of Asia, surrounded by Asian countries. Tajikistan includes the Pamir Mountains, which reach an altitude of almost 7,500 metres. Most of the population lives in the parallel valleys below.
Throughout their history, the Tajiks have been repeatedly invaded and conquered. The armies of Alexander the Great, the 7th century Arabs, Genghis Khan, the Turks, and the British and Russian empires have had a profound impact on this people. Numerous invasions were a major factor in the dispersal of Tajiks to other places. Many Tajiks moved to Afghanistan and are still living under conditions of war, ethnic violence, religious strife and harsh living conditions. After the collapse of the USSR, Tajikistan continued to suffer from years of civil war that ended in 1997. Tens of thousands of people died and thousands of wives were widowed. The economy collapsed and unemployment was extremely high, reaching 70% in some rural areas.
Most Tajiks are farmers and herders. Seasonal grasses provide suitable pastures for raising sheep, goats, cattle, camels and horses. They also practise a remarkable system of terraced irrigation on the mountainsides, allowing wheat and barley to be grown at higher, arid altitudes. Over the past 60 years, more and more Tajiks have moved to the cities. Poetry plays an important role in Tajik culture. It is recited and often sung at important festivals. Even the Koran is set to music.
