Date: 5/8/04

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Samarkand, a legendary city on the Great Silk Road, capital of mighty warlords and romantic home for renowned poets, still shines as the brightest star among historical and cultural centers of the present world.

Samarkand's favorable geographic location, comparatively mild climate, abundance of rivers and springs with sweet water brought stone age people here. In the bronze age 3,500 - 5000 years ago inhabitants of the area were making fine bronze bracelets and tools.

It took one and a half century for the city to revive, first as the capital of the Great Tamerlaine, Shaker of the Universe, then as the glorious cultural and scientific center of the medieval East under the rule of Ulugbek, Tamerlaine's grandson. Now Samarkand is a place where the unique spirit of the antiquity is carefully preserved. The peculiar combination of its splendid monuments and surprising richness of the cultural tradition is strongly felt by newcomers.

Square was made the center of Samarkand in the time of Amir Timur. Here the heralds were announcing the will of the ruthless Warrior King to the sound of huge copper drub (djarchi). Here public executions were arranged; beginnings of war invasions and successful endings of military raids were celebrated. The triumphant Emperor and his army were marching through the square on their way from conquered countries with uncountable treasures, flocks of captured slaves and heads of enemies stuck upon long spears.

Three gorgeous madrassahs are located here.

The first to appear and the most important as educational institution was the Ulugbek Madrassah, built in 1417-1420. In its two floors of 50 dormitory cells lived about 100 students. Beneath the little corner domes were lecture halls, and a large mosque was located in the rear. One of its graduates was Jami, the famous Tajik poet. According to some data, Ulugbek himself was teaching mathematics here.

Victorious battles in India suggested to Timur that a mosque should be built that would surpass anything else ever built in the world and to glorify his empire for centuries to come. Hundreds of artisans, architects and builders were brought to Samarkand. The construction took five years (1399-1404) and upon return from another military campaign he found the Mosque ready. Bibi-Khanum is said to be the senior of Timur's wives, however the historical records mention her name as Saray-Mulk Khanum.