Uzbekistan is home to some of the oldest cities in the world. As it is situated between two rivers, the Amu-Darya and the Sir-Darya, it was considered as the crossroads of the famed Silk Road, a lucrative trading route that ran through the center of Uzbekistan. The area has always been a haven for culture and for religion. In fact, Zoroastrianism, which predates Christianity and Islam, began in what is now called Uzbekistan, and this religion is still practiced worldwide.

Quite a bit of technology existed early in civilization, and the people of Uzbekistan were involved in building and improving irrigation systems, weaving silk, maintaining an armory, growing and cultivation cotton and various types of grain, grapes, and other fruits. Those who had knowledge of these cultural achievements were held in high regard.

Uzbekistan is once again a popular destination for travelers to Central Asia. There are so many interesting places to go and things to see that you may have a difficult time choosing what attractions to visit. Uzbekistan travel is a lot like stepping into another world. Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, presents an awesome mix of ancient and modern architecture: from centuries old Zangiota mausoleum and Khast Imam ensemble to Tashkent metro, the magnificent underground artwork in itself, and the TV Tower, the tallest building in Central Asia.

Samarkand has the Afrasiab Museum, which is filled with archeological items that were found during the time between the 4th and the 13th centuries, A.C. Bukhara has many mosques and mausoleums to check out, such as the Magoki-Attari, the Kalyan, and the Djami mosques and the Samanids, the Chashma-Ayub mausoleums. Khiva is unique in that the entire town was declared as a “historical monument of world significance” by UNESCO. Every building and attraction in this town has been preserved in the style that was in use when the town was established 2500 years ago. Khiva can boast of having more minarets in all of Asia.

In many Central Asian counties those who arrange the marriage visit homes of future bride on behalf of groom and his family and propose marriage. Future of young family depends on groom’s character, his parent’s and relative’s life experiences and the marriage arranger herself. By taking the responsibility of match making person has to know everything about bride’s and groom’s families and as well as bride and groom themselves otherwise it is considered a big sin to arrange an unhappy marriage for both families. Those people must understand that well being and future of the young family is in their hands.

In ancient Central Asia the match makes couldn’t come into brides home to propose the marriage without informing the bride’s family. The match makes or sometimes mother of the groom came early in the morning when everyone was sleeping to the bride’s home and swept the floor near the entrance door to the bride’s home that would show the bride’s parents that there is a family who is interested in proposing marriage to their daughter. Next bride’s family would start to prepare for the visit of the match maker, by trying to find out from which family the groom is and learn more about the groom and his family. Parents of the bride did not agree to the marriage from first visit of the match makes even if they were in favor of it. First bride’s family had to show its’ pride and give an impressions of their daughter as hard to get bride, which would bring brides’ and her family’s status higher.

In present time the process of match making became easier in some parts of Central Asia, young women and men meet each other in their own and then ask their parents for permission to the marriage or their parents or immediate family members play the role of match makers. They tell each other about their families, relatives and other background information. A lot of attention is paid to how neighbors describe the bride or groom and references from school or work.

Bride and groom are allowed to have few dates before giving their final agreement for the engagement. Those dates are very important as they give young people an opportunity to find out more information about each other, such as their views on different aspects of life, their personalities and interests. Based on those dates they are able to make a better decision about the possibility of future marriage.