Uzbekistan is a former Soviet republic situated in northern-central Asia. During its history it has been invaded by the likes of the Persians, Greeks (Alexander the Great), and Mongols (Genghis Khan). In the fourteenth century it became the centre of the Islamic empire of Tamerlane. The territory was conquered by the Russians in the mid-nineteenth century; it became a republic within the USSR in 1925. Independence from the Soviet Union was achieved in 1991. Extensive irrigation has made large-scale cotton production possible, making Uzbekistan the world's third largest cotton producer. The economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, but there are huge mineral deposits which have as yet to be fully exploited; these include coal, gas, oil, lead, copper, zinc, and even gold. The people are mostly Sunni Muslims and Uzbek is the official language.
