Rating: Not rated
Tags: History, Lang:en
Summary
Includes pictures
**
Includes ancient and medieval descriptions of Samarkand
*Includes online resources and a bibliography for further
reading
“The almond groves of Samarqand, Bokhara, where red
lilies blow. And Oxus, by whose yellow sand The grave
white-turbaned merchants go.” - Oscar Wilde, “Ave
Imperatrix"
Samarkand is one of the oldest cities of Central Asia, founded
nearly 3,000 years ago. The legendary city was the capital of
the Sogdians, a trading people who facilitated the spread of
commodities, religions, technologies, and ideas across the Silk
Road between China and the rest of Eurasia. Samarkand was a key
site along the ancient Silk Road, a place where a number of
world cultures from the East and the West met and assimilated.
As well as being a commercial center, it was a key religious
site for the Zoroastrian, Buddhist, Christian, and Islamic
faiths. The growth of Samarkand occurred at the same time as
other major urban centers based on oases along the Silk Road,
such as Khwarezm, Balkh (Bactria), and Bukhara. The city was
conquered by Alexander the Great in 329 BCE and served as a
base for his campaigns through Transoxiana. From the early
Islamic period to the 7th century, the city prospered until it
was completely destroyed by Genghis Khan in 1220. It was not
until the 14th century that the city was rebuilt about one
kilometer southwest of the ancient tell site.
Although well-known for its trade, another part of Samarkand
that makes its history so interesting is its association with
the Timurid dynasty and its legendary founder, Tamerlane. Known
by the Sogdians as Timur (meaning “iron”), he was
one of the most extraordinary individuals to have ever existed.
From his origins as a member of the tribal aristocracy, through
political and military activity – and almost supernatural
power – he came to dominate Transoxania and much of Iran.
A lot of his behavior as an emperor was developed on the model
of the Mongol empire that had existed before him, as he
embarked on a mission to create the largest Turkic Muslim
Empire of Eurasia.
Tamerlane chose Samarkand as the capital of this empire. He
loved this city above all others, and after each of his
military expeditions he would bring back local artisans and
craftsmen to live and work there. Beautiful buildings rose one
after another through their efforts, and a gloriously
cosmopolitan culture blossomed, with monuments unique to this
part of the world being constructed in its diverse districts.
Tamerlane’s successors – though not as ambitious in
their conquests – contributed much to the heritage of
this city, and at the height of its prosperity it was said to
be the very center of the world.
Samarkand: The History and Legacy of One of Asia's Oldest
Cities examines the tumultuous history of one of the most
important cities in Asia. Along with pictures depicting
important people, places, and events, you will learn about
Samarkand like never before.