The Tajik are the original Persian people who reside in Central Asia. While most of the residents of this area are of Turkic origin, the Tajik are descended from Indo-Iranian ancestors who lived in the area from at least 300 B.C.E. In the twenty-first century, most Tajik live in Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan, with some also living in neighboring China. Their language, which is also called Tajik, is a variation of Persian.

Salem Press Encyclopedia, 2022. 3p.