Ashgabat history

The modern history of Ashgabat began in 1881, when a military fortification of the Russian Empire named Askhabad was founded on this site. The settlement emerged near the ruins of the ancient Parthian city of Konjikala, which was once an important point on the Great Silk Road. According to the most common version, the city's name comes from the Persian language and translates as "City of Love" (from the words "eshgh" — love and "abad" — city, inhabited place).

Key Factors of Development

A number of strategic factors contributed to the rapid growth and development of the young city:

• Military-Strategic Position: Initially, Ashgabat was an important border outpost ensuring control over the Trans-Caspian region.
• Transport Infrastructure: The construction of the Trans-Caspian Railway in 1885 turned the military fortification into a major transport and trade hub, connecting it with the Caspian Sea and the central regions of the empire.
• Administrative Status: Soon after its founding, Askhabad became the administrative centre of the Transcaspian Region, which attracted officials, military personnel, and merchants.

Early Cultural and Economic Features

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Ashgabat was a city with a distinct European-style rectangular layout, which distinguished it from traditional Central Asian cities. The economy focused on transit trade, primarily in cotton, carpets, and leather goods, as well as serving the needs of the military garrison and the railway station. The rapidly growing population was multi-ethnic: Russians, Armenians, Persians, and representatives of other nations settled here, contributing to the formation of a unique cultural environment at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.

Chronology of Ashgabat's History

• 1881 — Foundation of the Askhabad military fortification, which became the administrative centre of the Transcaspian Region of the Russian Empire.
• 1885 — The Trans-Caspian Railway passed through the city, transforming it into an important transport and trade hub.
• 1919 — The city was renamed Poltoratsk in honour of a local revolutionary figure.
• 1925 — Poltoratsk received the status of the capital of the newly formed Turkmen SSR.
• 1927 — The city's historical name was returned in a new transcription — Ashgabat.
• October 6, 1948 — A catastrophic earthquake with a magnitude of up to 10 occurred, which almost completely destroyed the city and claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people.
• 1950s – 1980s — Large-scale restoration and reconstruction of the city in accordance with Soviet architectural plans.
• 1962 — Completion of the Karakum Canal to Ashgabat, which solved the water supply problem and contributed to greening.
• 1991 — After the collapse of the USSR, Ashgabat became the capital of independent Turkmenistan.
• Late 1990s – 2000s — The beginning of a massive reconstruction of the city, during which many buildings were clad in white marble, earning Ashgabat the unofficial title of the "White Marble Capital".
• 2013 — Ashgabat was entered into the Guinness World Records as the city with the highest concentration of white marble-clad buildings in the world.

Key Milestones in the Development of Ashgabat

The history of Ashgabat is not just a chronology of events, but a story of radical transformations that formed its unique appearance. The key stages of the city's development can be roughly divided into three main groups: architectural, infrastructural, and cultural-political.

Architectural Milestones: From Ruins to Marble Splendor

Ashgabat's architectural path is marked by two major events. The first was the catastrophic earthquake of 1948, which practically destroyed the city completely. This tragedy became the starting point for large-scale restoration under a unified plan in the style of Soviet Neoclassicism. The second event that defined the modern look of the capital is the massive reconstruction after Turkmenistan gained independence. Since the late 1990s, the city began to transform into the famous "White Marble Capital". This grandiose project led to Ashgabat being entered into the Guinness World Records in 2013 as the city with the highest concentration of white marble buildings in the world, which became its calling card.

Infrastructural Milestones: Road and Water as the Foundation of Life

The development of the city, located between the desert and the mountains, would have been impossible without two fateful infrastructure projects. The construction of the Trans-Caspian Railway in 1885 turned a small military outpost into an important transport and trade hub, giving a powerful impulse to its economic growth. Decades later, in 1962, the completion of the Karakum Canal to Ashgabat solved the acute problem of water shortage. This not only improved the lives of the citizens but also allowed for large-scale greening, turning the capital into a blooming oasis city.

Cultural and Political Milestones: Birth of a Capital

Obtaining and strengthening the capital status became the driving force behind Ashgabat's development. Founded in 1881 as the administrative centre of the Transcaspian Region, the city officially became a capital in 1925, serving as the centre of the Turkmen SSR (then under the name Poltoratsk). However, it was the status of the capital of independent Turkmenistan, obtained in 1991, that launched the most grandiose transformations. This event served as the ideological basis for a massive reconstruction aimed at creating the image of a prosperous centre of the nation, which led to the formation of its modern, world-famous appearance.

The architectural appearance of Ashgabat is unique and reflects the dramatic history of the city, which has gone through several stages of complete transformation. Each era has left its mark, forming an eclectic but essentially harmonious ensemble.

Russian Imperial Period (1881 — early 20th century)

Initially, Ashgabat (at that time Askhabad) was built as a military-administrative centre of the Russian Empire. This period was characterized by a clear rectangular street layout, typical of many colonial cities of that time. The architecture was predominantly functional: one- and two-storey houses made of adobe or fired brick. There were few monumental buildings, but among them stood out the Voskresensky Cathedral and the Baha'i House of Worship, which, unfortunately, have not survived to this day. Overall, it was a typical garrison town with elements of European development.

Soviet Era: From Neoclassicism to Modernism

This period can be divided into two key stages, the boundary between which was the catastrophic earthquake of 1948.

• Pre-war Period (1920s – 1948): After the proclamation of Ashgabat as the capital of the Turkmen SSR, the reconstruction of the city began in the spirit of the new times. Industrial enterprises and public buildings appeared, with architectural features tracing back to Constructivism.
• Post-war Restoration (1950s – 1980s): The 1948 earthquake practically wiped the city off the face of the earth. Restoration was carried out according to a single master plan developed by Leningrad architects. The leading style became Soviet Neoclassicism (Stalinist Empire style). The city centre was built up with monumental buildings featuring wide avenues, symmetrical facades, and classical decorative elements. Examples of this style include the complex of buildings of the Academy of Sciences (1949–1953) and old government institutions. From the 1960s, Neoclassicism was replaced by Soviet Modernism, characterized by stricter, functional forms and the use of reinforced concrete structures. Iconic objects of this era were the State Library building (1964–1976) and the "Gulistan" shopping centre (old market No. 4).

Independence Period: The Era of White Marble

After 1991, the most massive and famous transformation of Ashgabat began. The city became a showcase for the new state, reflected in a unique architectural style that can be described as Monumental Orientalist Postmodernism. Its key features:

• Massive Use of White Marble: Almost all new and many reconstructed old buildings were clad in white marble. This earned Ashgabat a place in the Guinness World Records as the city with the highest concentration of white marble buildings.
• Gigantomania and Symbolism: New structures amaze with their size and unusual shapes, often carrying symbolic meaning. For example, the Wedding Palace "Bagt Koshgi" is designed in the form of the eight-pointed star of Oguzhan with a globe inside, and the Ministry of Oil and Gas Industry building resembles a lighter.
• National Motifs: The decor widely uses national ornaments, elements related to the history and culture of the Turkmen people, such as images of carpet guls and the eight-pointed star.

Among the iconic buildings of this era are the monumental Arch of Neutrality, the "Oguzhan" Presidential Palace, the "Ruhyiyet" Palace of Congresses, and numerous ministries, hotels, and residential complexes that form the unique and grandiose appearance of the modern capital of Turkmenistan.

The city of Ashgabat, with its rich and multifaceted history, has become the birthplace or an important stage in life for many outstanding personalities. Figures of politics, science, art, and sports who left a noticeable mark on history were born, lived, and worked here.

Political and Public Figures

• Saparmurat Niyazov (Turkmenbashi) (1940–2006) — Soviet and Turkmen statesman, the first President of Turkmenistan (1990–2006). His activities defined the country's political and social course after gaining independence, and the large-scale reconstruction of Ashgabat initiated by him formed its modern "white marble" appearance.
• Ashgabat Commissars — a group of nine revolutionary figures and leaders of Soviet power in the Transcaspian Region, executed on the night of July 23, 1918, near the city during an anti-Bolshevik uprising. This event became one of the dramatic episodes of the Civil War in the region.
• Dmitri Shepilov (1905–1995) — Soviet party and state figure, economist and scholar. Born in Askhabad (the old name of Ashgabat), he reached high posts, including serving as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the USSR and Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU.
• Jeren Mamedova (1923–1985) — a prominent Turkmen state and public figure. She held the post of Minister of Social Security of the Turkmen SSR and was a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the republic, becoming one of the most influential female politicians in Soviet Turkmenistan.

Figures of Science and Culture

• Vadim Masson (1929–2010) — outstanding Soviet and Russian archaeologist, Doctor of Historical Sciences. Although born in Tashkent, his scientific activity was closely linked to Turkmenistan and Ashgabat, where he led the Southern Turkmenistan Archaeological Complex Expedition (UTAKE) and made a huge contribution to the study of the ancient civilizations of the region.
• Maya-Gozel Aimedova (born 1941) — famous Soviet and Turkmen theatre and film actress. Born in Ashgabat, she became one of the most recognizable figures in Turkmen cinema, and in 1987 was awarded the title of People's Artist of the USSR.
• Baba Annanov (1934–1991) — Soviet Turkmen actor, director, and screenwriter. A native of Ashgabat, he played many vivid roles in cinema and theatre, and also directed films himself, receiving the title of People's Artist of the USSR in 1985.
• Izzat Klychev (1923–2006) — one of the most famous Turkmen artists of the 20th century, People's Artist of the USSR. His work, permeated with national flavour, received international recognition and had a huge influence on the development of fine arts in Turkmenistan.