THE ROLE OF THE HEPHTHALITES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF UZBEK STATEHOOD

This article analyzes the role of the Hephthalite state in the history of 
Central Asia, particularly in the formation of Uzbek statehood, based on historical 
sources. It examines the system of governance, socio-economic life, foreign policy, and 
the role of the Hephthalites in the Great Silk Road. Furthermore, the influence of 
Hephthalite state traditions on later political systems, including the Timurid period, is 
substantiated from a historical and philosophical perspective. Based on Chinese 
chronicles, Byzantine historians, and modern scholarly research, the article concludes 
that the Hephthalite state represented an important stage in the development of 
centralized governance in Central Asia.