Samarkand Tourism and Travel Guide

Samarkand (from Sogdian: 'Stone Fort' or 'Rock Town'), alternatively Samarqand or Samarcand, is one of the oldest inhabited cities in Central Asia, prospering from its location on the Silk Road between China and the Mediterranean. At times Samarkand has been one of the greatest cities of Central Asia; traditionally it is the capital of Samarqand Region, and is Uzbekistan's third largest city, after fast-growing Namangan in the Ferghana Valley. The city is noted for being an Islamic centre for scholarly study. In the 14th century it became the capital of the empire of Timur (Tamerlane) and is the site of his mausoleum (the Gur-e Amir). The Bibi-Khanym Mosque (a modern replica) remains one of the city's most notable landmarks. The Registan was the ancient center of the city. The city has carefully preserved the traditions of ancient crafts: embroidery, gold embroidery, silk weaving, engraving on copper, ceramics, carving and painting on wood.There is evidence of human activity in the area of the city from the late paleolithic era, though there is no direct evidence of when exactly Samarkand was founded, some theories are that it was founded between the 8th and 7th centuries BC. By the time of the Achaemenid dynasty of Persia, it was the capital of the Sogdian satrapy. The city was taken by Alexander the Great in 329 BC, when it was known by its Greek name of Marakanda. The city was ruled by a succession of Iranian, Persian, and Turkish peoples until the Mongols under Genghis Khan conquered Samarkand in 1220.In 2001, UNESCO added the city to its World Heritage List as Samarkand – Crossroads of Cultures. http://www.samshahar.uz/uzc/general_information Guidebook of history of Samarkand', ISBN 978-9943-01-139-7 'Uzbekistan: Provinces, Major Cities & Towns - Statistics & Maps on City Population'. Citypopulation.de. Retrieved 2014-08-23. Энциклопедия туризма Кирилла и Мефодия. 2008. 'History of Samarkand'. Sezamtravel. Retrieved 1 November 2013.