Where mighty mountains meet endless steppes lies Tajikistan, a land of geographical extremes and contrasting ways of life. Since ancient times, nomads roamed the mountains, moving with the seasons and their herds to new pastures. The lowlanders far below worked the fertile valleys, tilling soil and harvesting crops. These two lifestyles eventually intersected, creating a basis for one of Central Asia’s first settlements - the ancient site of Sarazm. This grew into the mighty Sogdian empire, renowned as savvy traders and the middlemen between East and West, thriving at the heart of the Silk Roads. Though their storied height now seems scarcely believable, the rugged lands of present-day Tajikistan echo with their legends, where they controlled the heart of the Silk Roads. While empires and kingdoms have risen and fallen in this small nation, the Tajiks still hold onto a lasting legacy of the winding through the fabric of everyday life.