Samarkand: the most beautiful place of Central Asia

Samarkand

Samarkand: the most beautiful place of Central Asia

Samarkand is not only beautiful but also very important in historical aspect. Samarkand city is the second largest city after its “big brother” Tashkent. Like Tashkent, Samarkand once was the capital of Uzbekistan. Proudly standing right in the center of Uzbekistan, on the left bank of the Zarafshan River, Samarkand generously welcomes everyone wanting to know its unbelievable breathtaking story which takes the beginning in the earliest days of humanity.

Samarkand attracts tourists and scientists from all over the world with the stunning architecture, spirit of harmony, quietness and, of course, with many historical riddles and mysteries.

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Samarkand history: rise of the great city
It is well known that such cities as Memphis, Rome, Babylon and Athens were the first centers of human civilization. But not everyone knows the fact, that Samarkand is as old as the cities above mentiones. For this reason Samarkand is called “Rome of East”. This city changed many names: it was called Marakanda once (middle of the 1st millennium BC), then renamed to Afrosiab. It was first mentioned in the 329th year BC in the scanty descriptions of those who witnessed the invasion of Alexander the Great. But scientists and historians confirm that Samarkand was founded long before this invasion of Greek-Macedonians and its history began much earlier.
Samarkand witnessed conquerors that brought bloody wars, but it resisted and rose, having become more beautiful and strong through the ages. The city soaked the culture and influence from the Sacs and Massagets, Greek-Macedonians, Mongols and Arabs. It absorbed only the best and survived.
Undoubtedly, Samarkand reached the highest level of glory when it became the capital of the Tamerlane’s Empire, greatest state that stretched to Bosfor. Tamerlane created strong and fearless state which was indestructible in the political sphere, but he also never forgot about the cultural and spiritual parts of life. During the rule of Amir Timur all the best architects and scientists worked in Samarkand to make this city the pearl of Eastern world of Muslims. When Tamerlane died, the power of the Empire faded; it was split and divided between Tamerlane’s heirs. Ulugbek (Timur’s grandson), the most famous of the heirs, was a very peace-loving person. He ruled Samarkand and its surroundings for about forty years. During his rule the science was on the highest level, many famous scientists were brought from abroad, and Ulugbek himself was a good scientist and astronomer.