In the 8 century BC in present-day Uzbekistan the state of Khorazm is founded. Since the sixth century BC the area is under foreign control, by Persia, Macedon and Hellenic states. In the first century BC the area becomes part of Kushan, followed by the Kaganate of Turkish people's in the sixth and the Arabic Caliphate in the seventh century. In the ninth century the area is the centre of the Tajiki state of the Samanides. In the twelfth century the Saljuq Sultanate conquers the area. It is overrun by Genghis Khan and his Mongols in 1220. In the 1300s, Timur, known in the west as Tamerlane, builds the Timurid Empire with its capital at Samarkand.

In 1360 Khorazm becomes independent, but in 1370 the area becomes part of the Mongolian state of Timuride Empire. Turkish tribes found in 1400 the Uzbekian Khanate. This khanate is divided in 1598 in the Khanate (later Emirate) of Bukhara and Khiva, followed in 1800 by the Khanate of Kokand. In 1865 Russia occupies Tashkent and by the end of the 19th century, Russia has conquered all of Central Asia. In 1876 the Russians dissolved the Khanate of Kokand, while allowing the Khanates of Khiva and Bukhara to remain as direct protectorates.

In 1924, following the establishment in 1920 of Soviet power in both Khiva as the Khorazm People's Republic and Bukhara as the People's Republic of Bukhara, the Soviet Socialist Republic of Uzbekistan is founded from these territories and the Turkestan Autonomous Socialist Soviet Republic. At that moment Uzbekistan becomes a seperate member of the USSR. Tajikistan is separated from Uzbekistan in 1932.

Uzbekistan declares independence as the Republic of Uzbekistan in 1991. Islom Abdug'anijevič Karimov, former first secretary of the Uzbek communist party, is elected president in 1991, is the election was not viewed as free or fair by foreign observers. Although nominally a presidential democratic republic, de facto the opposition doesn't have any fair chance at elections. Under terms of a 1995 referendum, Karimov's first term is extended, followed by another national referendum in 2002. Karimov founded the Fidokorlor (Self Sacrifice) as his personal vehicle and his rule is also supported by the post-communist Chalk Demokratik Partijasi (Democratic People's Party, CDP). Uzbekistan is not a democracy and does not have a free press.