Samarkand: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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==History==

The city of Samarkand was founded prior to the [[3rd millennium BCEBC]]. During most of its history it was a part of the [[Persian Empire]].

Lying on the trade routes ([[silk road]]) between [[China]] and the [[Middle East]], Samarkand prospered. At times in its history Samarkand has been the greatest city of [[Central Asia]]. [[Alexander the Great]] captured the town in [[329 BC]] (see [[Afrasiab]], [[Sogdiana]]).

Under [[Arabs|Arab]] rule (from the AD [[7th century]] CE), the city flourished as a trade center until the devastation of the city by the [[Mongols]] led by [[Genghis Khan]] ([[1220]]).

[[Timur]] (Tamerlane) ([[1336]] - [[1405]]) was born at [[Kesh]], situated some 50 miles south of Samarkand. Upon taking power as a chieftain, Timur rebuilt the city to its former glory. Samarkand became the capital of his empire, which extended from [[India]] to [[Turkey]]. In 1404 Timur ordered the mausoleum called ''Guri-Emir'' ("Tomb of the Emir") for his beloved grandson, Mukhammad Sultan. The mausoleum became the burial site of the [[Timurid]] dynasty