Tajiks: Iranians of the East

Who are the Tajiks and where do they come from? How are they different from the other peoples of Central Asia? This video is the first in a series of three about Tajikistan and it’s social and historical context. Sources: A History of the Tajiks: Iranians of the East, Richard Foltz Central Asia in World History, Peter B. Golden Azan on the Moon: Entangling Modernity along Tajikistan’s Pamir Highway, Till Mostowlansky Ferghana Valley: The Heart of Central Asia, Frederick Starr (Ed.) Land Beyond the River: The Untold Story of Central Asia, Monica Whitlock Also: The Economist, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty among others Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:06 Dushanbe 02:37 Turks and Persians 04:32 Regions of Tajikistan 05:52 Origins until Communism 09:01 Fann Mountains 15:25 Ancient Panjakent 17:24 Who are the Tajiks? 22:02 Tajik Wedding 24:15 Soviet Origins 27:16 Endings