Uzbekistan has preserved the historical relics from the time when Central Asia was the centre of Tamerlane’s empire, which also coincides with the development of education and commerce. Cities of today’s Uzbekistan, including Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Tashkent and Shakhrisabz live in the imagination of the West as symbols of oriental beauty and mystery.

In ancient times many cities which are located on the territory of modern Uzbekistan were located along the Silk Road, the road between the East and the West, where caravans of goods run. The road got its name from silk - the Chinese good that was in great demand in Europe. The advantageous geographical location made these cities attractive for conquerors. These cities were conquered many times by various conquerors, including Alexander the Great. Alexander founded at least 8 cities in Central Asia between 334 - 323 years BC.

As for trade caravans, they have started passing through the Great Silk Road later in 138th AC when China opened its borders for trade.

During the period between 484 to1150, the region was invaded by the west tribes as well: Huns, Turks and Arabs, the later brought a new religion - Islam. Within that period, many Masjids (mosques) and Madrasahs (Islamic school) were built in Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva. Most of them had been built during the reign of Samanids.

Many of those cities were totally destroyed during the invasion of Genghis Khan in 1220. Later, the great conqueror Timur, known in the West as Tamerlane, revived the destroyed cities using for that those slaves and builders who had been captured during Timur’s successful military campaigns. Tamerlane annexed Persia, Baghdad, he had campaigns to Anatolia and India. The majority of the architectural buildings which are located in Samarkand today, were built by Tamerlane and his grandson Ulugbek.