Author: Lily Nemirovsky

Uzbek Identity: Understanding the Uzbek National Narrative

What created Uzbek national identity? This is a complex question and one that is personal for each Uzbek. This resource will focus on presenting one element of this identity – the Uzbek national narrative. Who are the national heroes and what are the pivotal events that they learned about in school? What are the major […]

Kyrgyz Identity: Understanding the Kyrgyz National Narrative

What created Kyrgyz national identity? This is a complex question and one that is personal for each Kyrgyz person. This resource will focus on presenting one element of this identity – the Kyrgyz national narrative. Who are the national heroes and what are the pivotal events that they learned about in school? What are the […]

Crafting the Silk Road: Uzbek Ceramics in Ancient and Modern Life

Uzbekistan’s ancient pottery and ceramics offer a window into the deep history and vibrant cultural evolution of Central Asia, connecting the ingenuity of early Silk Road societies to modern-day artistic traditions. The remarkable discoveries unearthed by archaeologists, from Hellenistic-era pottery fragments at the Uzundara Fortress to the intricately glazed ceramics of Rishton and Afrasiyab, reveal […]

Exploring Bishkek’s Mosques

The Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek today features mosques scattered throughout its streets. Amazingly, nearly all of these mosques were constructed after the Kyrgyz Republic declared independence in 1991. The city was constructed mostly by Tsarist Russia and the USSR, neither of which encouraged the construction of mosques. The construction boom in Bishkek is testament to […]