Heritage sites, Archaeological discoveries, History of Archaeology

Samarkand Crossroads of Cultures

Location

Samarkand

Country

Uzbekistan

Year of Research

2001

Culture

The historic town of Samarkand is a crossroad and melting vessel of the world\'s cultures.
Discovered in the 7th century B.C. as ancient Afrasiab, Samarkand had its most important development in the Timurid period from the 14th to the 15th centuries.
The major significant include the Registan Mosque and madrasas, Bibi-Khanum Mosque, the Shakhi-Zinda compound and the Gur-Emir ensemble, as well as Ulugh-Beg\'s Observatory.
The design and townscape of Samarkand, located at the crossroads of ancient cultures, are masterpieces of Islamic cultural creativity.
Ensembles in Samarkand such as the Bibi Khanum Mosque and Registan Square played a influential role in the development of Islamic architecture over the entire region, from the Mediterranean to the Indian subcontinent.
The remarkable town of Samarkand illustrates in its art, architecture, and urban structure the most significant stages of Central Asian cultural and political history from the 13th century to the present day.