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Uzbekistan is a country in Central Asia, once a crucial 'hub' on the Silk Road. This is the region's cradle of culture for more than two millennia, where cities like Samarkand and Bukhara evoke images of once great empires. Rulers like Genghis Khan and Timur, however ruthless their rule, seem to resonate in many corners of Uzbekistan. Before becoming part of the Russian empire in the 19th century, Uzbekistan was conquered by nomads who spoke Eastern Turkic languages, which is the foundation of today's Uzbek language.