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(3rd–2nd millennium BCE)

The Bronze Age marked a new stage in the development of world civilizations. This era was characterized by more efficient use of natural resources, the improvement of tools, the complication of social structures, the development of crafts and trade relations, which later laid the foundations for the formation of early statehood and written culture.

In human history, the Bronze Age was an important stage that followed the Eneolithic period and appeared almost simultaneously in different regions of the world. The main feature of this era was the development of metalworking technologies—specifically, the production of bronze by alloying copper with tin. The strength of bronze and the convenience of working with it led to its widespread use in the manufacture of weapons, tools, and jewelry. During this period, significant social changes occurred: the division of labor was consolidated, agriculture developed, the population shifted from a nomadic way of life to a sedentary culture, and the first signs of statehood began to appear. Archaeological finds in Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, as well as in Central Asia confirm the great civilizational importance of this period. The earliest bronze artifacts appeared in the Near East, from where the technology spread to Egypt, Iran, China, Europe, and Central Asia.

On the territory of Uzbekistan, important stages of this period can also be traced. At this time, people mastered smelting and casting metals, making various tools and weapons from them. A social differentiation of labor emerged, with agriculture, animal husbandry, and crafts developing into distinct and independent spheres. The southern regions of Uzbekistan were encompassed by a sedentary farming culture known in the scholarly world as the Sapalli culture. At the same time, pastoral tribes widely settled in the northern areas. Monogamous (nuclear) families were formed. Diverse and large-scale structures appeared, combining military, administrative, religious, and residential functions, reflecting property differentiation within society, while the foundations of statehood began to take shape.

The most well-known sites of this era are the ancient settlements of Sapallitepa, Chust, Kuchuktepa, and Jarkutan. It is possible that the earliest ideas of the Zoroastrian religion originated in this period. At the same time, contacts between the cultural regions of the Ancient East intensified, trade routes expanded, and cultural exchange grew more active.

Thus, the Bronze Age occupies an important place in human history both technologically and socio-economically. The inventions and social institutions that emerged during this period became the foundation for subsequent stages of historical development.