ANCIENT CENTRAL ASIA AND ITS TOPONYMS

This article explores the linguistic, historical, and cultural significance of ancient Central Asian toponyms. Through the analysis of place names such as Sogdiana, Bactria, Khwarazm, and Samarkand, the paper examines how toponyms function as linguistic artifacts and historical documents. Drawing on philological, archaeological, and cartographic sources, the study highlights the influence of Iranian, Turkic, Arabic, and Mongolic languages on regional toponymy. It also emphasizes the role of hydronyms and settlement names in preserving archaic language forms, ethnic migration patterns, and cultural identities.