Samarkand is one of the oldest of the existing cities of our planet. Warriors from the armies of many great conquerors marched through its streets, and medieval poets sang it in their works. The history of Samarkand from the moment of its foundation to the present day is devoted to this article.
Ancient history
Although the history of the city of Samarkand dates back more than 2500 years, archaeological finds indicate that people lived in these parts already in the Upper Paleolithic era.
In antiquity, it was known as the capital of Sogdiana, which is described in the holy book of the religion of Zoroastrianism - the Avesta, dating back to the 6th century BC. e.
In Roman and ancient Greek sources it is referred to as Maracanda. In particular, the so-called biographers of Alexander of Macedon, who conquered the city in 329 BC, are called Samarkand. e.
In the 4-5 centuries AD, he came under the power of the East Iranian tribes. Perhaps this makes some politicians misinterpret the history of Samarkand and Bukhara. These cities cannot be called Tajik land. At least at the moment there is no serious scientific justification for this.
At the beginning of the 6th century, ancient Samarkand, in the history of which there are many white spots, was part of the Ephthalite empire, which included Khorezm, Bactria, Sogdiana and Gandhar.
Early middle ages
In 567-658 years of our era, Samarkand, the history of which has not been fully studied, was located in the territory of the Turkic and West Turkic Khaganates. There is no reliable information about the events that took place there during this period.
The year 712 in and Samarkand was marked by the invasion of the Arab conquerors, led by Kuteiba ibn Muslim, who managed to capture the city.
During the Muslim Renaissance
875-999 years included the history of Samarkand as the heyday of the city. During this period, he turned into one of the largest cultural and political centers of the Samanids.
When the Turkic dynasty of the Karakhanids came to power, the foundation of the first madrassas began in Samarkand. The most famous of them was an educational institution, opened at the expense of Ibrahim Tamgach Khan.
The heyday of Samarkand was also marked by the construction in the city of a luxurious palace decorated with paintings. It was erected by order of Ibrahim Hussein Karakhanid, who ruled from 1178 to 1200.
Decline
The events that took place in the region almost always left their mark in the history of Samarkand, since without the capture of this important political and cultural center of Central Asia, no ruler could consider his influence to be absolute.
In particular, at the beginning of the 13th century, the city was embroiled in a confrontation between the karakhanid Osman and the Khorezmshah Ala ad-Din Mohammed II. The latter managed to defeat the rebellious vassal and make Samarkand its capital. However, this was only the beginning of the troubles that awaited its inhabitants.
Conquest of Genghis Khan
In 1219, Genghis Khan, enraged by the disrespectful attitude towards his ambassadors by the rulers of Khorezm, stopped the invasion of China and moved his troops west.
Khorezmshah Muhammad in time found out about his plans. He decided not to give a decisive battle, but to sit out with the army in the cities. Khorezmshah hoped that the Mongols would scatter around the country in search of prey, and then it would be easier for garrison fortresses to cope with them.
One of the cities that were to play an important role in this regard was Samarkand. By order of Muhammad, high walls were erected around him and a moat was dug.
In March 1220, the Mongols destroyed and plundered Khorezm. Genghis Khan decided to use the soldiers who were captured for the siege of Samarkand, where he moved his troops. According to various sources, the garrison of the city at that time ranged from 40 to 110 thousand people. In addition, the defenders had 20 war elephants. On the third day of the siege, some representatives of the local clergy went into betrayal and opened the gates to the enemy, surrendering Samarkand without a fight. The 30,000 Kangl warriors who served the Khorezmshah Muhammad and his mother Turkan-Khatun were captured and executed.
In addition, the soldiers of Genghis Khan took away from the locals everything they could carry away, and left behind only ruins. According to travelers at that time, only 50,000 people were left alive from the 400,000th population of Samarkand.
However, the hardworking Samarkand did not accept. They revived their city at some distance from the former place, where modern Samarkand is located today.
Age of Timur and Timurids
At the end of the 60s of the 14th century, a new empire was formed in the territory of the former Chagatai ulus, as well as the southern part of the Juchi Ulus of Great Mongolia, called Turan. In 1370, a kurultai took place, at which Tamerlan was elected emir of the state.
The new ruler decided that his capital would be in Samarkand, and decided to turn it into one of the most magnificent and powerful cities in the world.
Heyday
According to historians, during the reign of the Timurid dynasty, Samarkand reached its highest development.
It was under him and with his descendants that architectural masterpieces were built there, which even today admire the perfection of the architects' design and the skill of those who worked on their construction.
The new emir forcibly drove to Samarkand masters from all countries, where he made aggressive campaigns. In a few years, magnificent mosques, palaces, madrassas and tombs were built in the city. Moreover, Timur began to give the nearest villages the names of famous cities of the East. This is how Baghdad, Damascus and Shiraz appeared in Uzbekistan. Thus, the great conqueror wanted to emphasize that Samarkand is more magnificent than all of them.
At his court, he gathered prominent musicians, poets and scientists from different countries, therefore, the capital of the Timurid Empire was rightfully considered one of the main cultural centers of not only the region, but also the world.
The beginning of Timur was continued by his descendants. In particular, an observatory was built under his grandson Mirzo Ulugbek in Samarkand. In addition, this enlightened ruler invited the best scholars of the Muslim East to his court, turning the city into one of the centers of world science and the study of Islam.
Late Middle Ages
In 1500, the Bukhara Khanate was founded. In 1510, accession to the throne of Kuchkunji Khan took place in Samarkand. Under his rule, large-scale construction continued in the city. In particular, two famous madrassas were erected. However, with the advent of the new ruler of Ubaidullah, the capital was moved to Bukhara, and the city became the capital of Bekov.
A new round of revival of Samarkand occurred in the period from 1612 to 1656, when the city was ruled by Yalangtush Bahadur.
New and Modern
In the 17-18th centuries the city lived a calm measured life. Dramatic changes in the history of Samarkand and Bukhara took place after Russian troops entered the territory of modern Uzbekistan in 1886. As a result, the city was annexed to the Russian Empire and became the administrative center of Zerafshan district.
In 1887, local residents revolted, but it was crushed by the Russian garrison under the command of Major General Friedrich von Stampel.
The quickest integration of Samarkand into the Russian Empire was the construction railroadconnecting it with the western regions of the state.
After the October revolution
After the well-known events in Petrograd in 1917, Samarkand was included in the Turkestan ASSR. Then, from 1925 to 1930, he had the status of the capital of the Uzbek SSR, later changing it to the title of the administrative center of the Samarkand region.
In 1927, the Uzbek Pedagogical Institute was founded in the city. This first higher educational institution subsequently became a university, and it was given the name Navoi.
In general, during the Soviet period, other universities were also founded in Samarkand, thanks to which the city became a major educational center throughout the entire Soviet Central Asia.
During the Second World War, the Artillery Academy and several large industrial enterprises were evacuated from Moscow in Samarkand.
The Soviet period was also marked by the active development of tourism. In addition, several large industrial enterprises were opened in the city.
In 1991, Samarkand became the capital of the Samarkand region of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Three years later, the largest university in Uzbekistan, the Samarkand State Institute of Foreign Languages, was opened there.
Now you know what a long history Samarkand has. In recent decades, much has been done there for the development of tourism, therefore, once in Uzbekistan, be sure to visit ancient capital Sogdians to see the masterpieces of medieval architecture, recognized as part of the world heritage of mankind.
The founding date of Samarkand remains controversial. It is customary to count the history of the city from 750 BC. e.: it is known that already in the VIII century BC. e. the walls of Afrasiab, the fortified capital of the historical region of Sogdiana, towered here. Around the same time, Rome was founded on the Apennine Peninsula, and the first Olympic Games were held in Ancient Greece.
In the foreseeable written story of the blessed Sogdiana is told in the collection of sacred texts of Zoroastrians - Avesta. The creation of this collection is dated 1200-800 years BC. The ancient Greek geographers Afrasiab was known as Maracanda. The name of the city in Sogdian language meant "Stone Fortress", there are other versions. In the VI century BC e. Samarkand entered the vast empire of the Persian ruler Cyrus the Great, stretching from the Mediterranean Sea to India. The Akhmenid dynasty founded by Cyrus was crushed by Alexander the Great. His troops took Samarkand in 329 BC. e. Over the following centuries, rulers of Hellenistic states dominated the city, emerged from the disintegrated empire of Alexander, then the Persians and Türks. Among the variegated multinational population of the city, coexisted communities that professed Zoroastrianism and Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity, Judaism and Manichaeism.
The Islamic era in the history of the ancient region of Sogdiana came at the beginning of the VIII century, when the troops of the Arab caliphate of the Umayyads captured Bukhara, Khorezm, and then Samarkand. This region became known as Maverannahr. Most of the population accepted the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, the temples of the old gods were destroyed. Instead, mosques and madrassas were erected. Samarkand has become one of the largest centers of Islamic science and culture. Famous medieval scientists, doctors, painters, musicians, philosophers and poets lived and worked here. We will name only the most illustrious names: Abulkasim Firdousi, Abdurahman Jami, Abu Abdullah Rudaki, Omar Khayyam.
For over two thousand years, Samarkand has been a key city in trade between the civilizations of the East and West. Here, in the Zeravshan River Valley, the main routes of the Great Silk Road converged. Most merchants did not cover the entire Silk Road, stretching for many thousands of kilometers. Caravans went from oasis to oasis, from city to city, where merchants sold their goods at local bazaars. New caravans formed there, heading further west. Repeatedly resold Chinese silk and porcelain vases, precious weapons from India, incense from Arabia, spices from South-East Asia, gems, jewelry and other treasures became more and more expensive. The largest market within Central Asia was in Samarkand.
The Silk Road also contributed to the dissemination of philosophical ideas and religious teachings, cultural traditions, historical traditions, scientific knowledge and new technologies. So, in 751 year of a new era in Samarkand, for the first time in the Islamic world, paper production began. The secret of its manufacture was revealed by captured Chinese craftsmen. It was from Samarkand that papermaking technology spread throughout the Islamic world, and only a few centuries later Europeans took possession of it.
In 1220, hordes of the Mongols conquered Samarkand; they dominated here for a century and a half. The oldest buildings of the city were destroyed, but in their place new architectural ensembles quickly appeared. The famous Moroccan traveler Ibn Battuta visited Samarkand in 1333. The enthralled geographer called it one of the greatest cities in the world and the most perfect of them in beauty.
Samarkand reached its peak in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, when it became the capital of the empire of the great conqueror Tamerlane (Timur) and his descendants, the Timurids. Emir Babur, who left brilliant descriptions of Samarkand of the 15th century, and Ulugbek, who created a university and an astronomical observatory in the city, stand out among them. During this period, Samarkand became a true center of science and culture.
In 1501, the city was captured by the Uzbek khan Sheybani, including it in the Bukhara state. The ruler was a gifted writer and poet. We have heard of his works, now stored in Istanbul. In the XVI-XVII centuries, the main tract of the Great Silk Road moved to Bukhara, and Samarkand gradually fell into decay.
In the spring of 1868, Samarkand, which at that time belonged to the Bukhara emirate, was "temporarily" captured by the troops of Russian General Konstantin von Kaufman. After five years of negotiations with the Emir of Bukhara Muzaffar and the signing of a peace treaty in 1873, the entire Zeravshan region, including Samarkand, was officially annexed to the possessions of the Russian Empire. The city began the construction of Russian quarters, where officers and officials lived, churches, hotels, restaurants, shops, public buildings were erected. By 1888, the rails of the railway were brought here.
After the October Revolution of 1917, Samarkand became the capital of Turkestan, since 1925 the government of Soviet Uzbekistan was located in the city, but five years later the capital of the republic was moved to Tashkent. Back in 1940, the Uzbek script was translated into the Cyrillic alphabet. Since the 1990s, the reform of the translation of written language into the Latin alphabet has continued, but it is moving slowly. On the streets of Samarkand there are inscriptions in both Cyrillic and Latin letters.
Geography and climate
Samarkand is located in the north-east of Uzbekistan, in the valley of the Zeravshan River, 35 km from the border with Tajikistan in the east. The city is built on a vast plateau, which rises to 720 m above standard sea level. About 20 km southeast, the mountains of the Zeravshan ridge rise with an average height of more than 4 km. Its highest peak is Mount Chimtarga (5489 m).
Zeravshan Valley at all times was famous for fertile lands. As far back as the 10th century, an Arab traveler described the surroundings of Samarkand as endless orchards, vineyards, green pastures and puffy fields stretching for eight days.
The area of \u200b\u200bSamarkand is 120 km², and its population exceeds 530 thousand inhabitants. Important roads and the main railway run through the city. Samarkand is 270 km distant from Tashkent along the M39 highway leading to the northeast; to Bukhara - 240 km to the west along the M37 highway.
Samarkand is located in the zone of subtropical intracontinental climate. It is hot in summer, winters are not very cold. Most precipitation falls from December to April. The air temperature drops below 0 ° C in mid-November. The average temperature of the coldest month - January - varies from –2 ° С to + 2 ° С. Sometimes there are sharp short-term drops in air temperature to –10 ° С, or even to –20 ° С. In January 1969, an unusual frost was noted in Samarkand, which reached a mark of –25.4 ° С. Extreme were also a few January days in 2008, when the thermometer fell to –22 ° C. But in January 2015, the streets of the city were quite comfortable, summer weather: +23.2 ° С.
Spring arrives in Samarkand early, quickly and decisively cracking down on the cold. Already in late March - early April, the air warms up to +10 ... + 15 ° С. The hottest period is observed in July and August, when during the day it is often +35 ... + 40 ° C in the shade. Meteorologists recorded a temperature maximum in July 1983: +42.4 ° C.
The best time to visit Samarkand is spring, when the streets are warm in the summertime and the air is full of aromas of flowering gardens. Comfortable in ancient city and at the beginning of autumn: the summer still does not give up its positions, and the markets are littered with the gifts of orchards and fields - fresh fruits and vegetables, grapes, nuts and fragrant greens.
Sights of Samarkand
There are not too many cities in Central Asia that can compete with Samarkand in the number of wonderful historical monuments. However, all the architectural masterpieces of the early Middle Ages that delighted contemporaries were destroyed by the troops of Genghis Khan, who captured Samarkand in 1220 and put it to fire and sword. The clay bricks from which the city buildings were erected scattered to ashes in conflagration. But to the northeast of the modern central regions, under the alluvial deposits of the earth, distinct traces of palaces and residential quarters that died in the 13th century still remain. Here is the world famous archaeological location, occupying about 200 hectares - excavated ruins of ancient Afrasiab. The streets paved with stone, the foundations of mighty walls and towers, palaces, public buildings, craft workshops were cleared. Research began at the end of the century before last. Here are found weapons, coins, jewelry, ceramics. On the walls of the ruins, wonderful frescoes of the VI-VII centuries have been preserved. You can get acquainted with the finds of archaeologists thanks to the exposition of the museum, built on the excavation site.
In the northern part of the ancient settlement, inspect a marvelous place reminiscent of the decoration of an oriental tale - the architectural complex of Shahi Zinda, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This is a whole quarter of mosques and mausoleums, erected from the XI to the XIX century. Here famous rulers, scholars, theologians are buried. The Shahi Zinda complex is the oldest building in Samarkand, which has come down to us unchanged - the tomb of Kusam ibn Abbas dating from 1334. From earlier buildings, only foundations and tombstones have survived. The buildings, decorated with irrigation majolica, are connected by arched galleries with elegant domes. Among them is the mausoleum of Khoja Donier (St. Daniel). According to legend, part of the remains of the biblical prophet Daniel, who interpreted prophetic dreams to the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar, is stored here. Tamerlan himself brought relics to his capital from the conquered city of Susa. At the mausoleum is a source of holy water. They say that he sprayed from under the hoof of the horse of Tamerlane, who was carrying a casket with the ashes of the prophet, and the royal horseman ordered the crypt to be built right here. Pilgrims who profess Christianity, Islam and Judaism come here from all over the world - the Prophet Daniel is revered in all three world religions. The mausoleum is open for visits from 09:00 to 17:00, entrance ticket will cost 10,000 soums.
In the south of the settlement Afrasiab a gentle hill is decorated with the Hazret-Khizr mosque, founded in the VIII century. The building was destroyed during the Mongol invasion, subsequently restored and rebuilt in the XIX century. It is believed that its archaic appearance has changed little. Tourists are allowed to climb the minaret of the mosque. It offers a beautiful panorama of Old Samarkand with Registan Square. At the foot of the hill is a bustling Siab bazaar. Behind the mosque is a memorial complex in which the first president of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, who died in 2016, is buried. Entrance to the mausoleum is free.
Most of the world-famous architectural structures of Samarkand were erected during the reign of Tamerlane (Timur) and his descendants in the XIV-XVI centuries, when this magnificent city was elected the capital of the empire created by Timur, stretching from the shores of the Caspian to the Indian Ocean. The main architectural treasure of Samarkand is the amazingly beautiful cathedral mosque of Bibi-Khanum. Tamerlan ordered to erect this grandiose temple in 1399, and already three years later the azure dome of the magnificent creation of architects ascended 40 meters above the capital of the empire. The richness of the decoration of this mosque was not equal. Here, the prayers of 10,000 believers were offered at the same time. A colossal entrance portal with an 18-meter lancet arch leads to the mosque. This construction largely determined the appearance of the architecture of Central Asia for the next centuries. The cost of visiting the complex is 12,000 soums.
Tamerlan died in Samarkand in 1405. The great conqueror is buried under the dome of the Gur Emir mausoleum - another outstanding monument of medieval architecture that became the model for the famous Taj Mahal mausoleum in Agra, built by one of its descendants.
In 1417, the grandson of Tamerlan Ulugbek, a wise ruler and a brilliant scientist, erected the University of Registan (madrassah) on the trading square. In addition to theology, mathematics and astronomy, medicine, philosophy, Arabic and Persian literature were taught here. In the early 1920s, Ulugbek built the largest observatory at that time, 5 kilometers from Registan Square. The building was a cylindrical tower with a height of more than 30 m and a diameter of about 46 m, through which passed a grand sextant with a radius of 40.2 meters. It was the world's largest precisely calibrated fixed instrument, allowing you to determine the position of the Sun, Moon, stars and planets crossing the celestial meridian over the horizon. The result of the work of a group of talented mathematicians and astronomers invited by the ruler of Samarkand, was an unsurpassed accuracy catalog of 1018 stars. He served as an Arab and European scholar authoritative reference for several centuries. Unfortunately for science, the work of scientists interrupted hostilities in 1449. Ulugbek died, his observatory was damaged by religious fanatics, later local residents dismantled the building for the construction of new buildings. Only in 1908, the Russian archaeologist and orientalist Vasily Vyatkin discovered the preserved foundations and underground premises of the Samarkand Observatory. Today, part of its structures has been recreated, a museum is operating here, where reproductions of medieval manuscripts and maps of the starry sky, portraits of prominent medieval scholars, astronomical instruments that were used during the time of Ulugbek are stored. Here you can see the layout of the reconstruction of his observatory.
Ulugbek Madrasah was the first monumental building on Registan Square. The ensemble of the main square of the city was harmoniously supplemented by the magnificent buildings of the Sherdor Madrasah and the Tilla-Kari Madrasah, erected in the 17th century. The architectural panorama of Registan Square includes the clan mausoleum of the Sheibanid dynasty (16th century) and the six-sided indoor market Chorsu, built in the 15th century and rebuilt 200 years later. Chorsu was restored in 2005, now there is an art gallery.
Pay attention to eco-friendly cotton textiles. If you bargain - and here it is an indispensable ritual and a condition for a successful deal - you can buy a nice, light shirt for 15,000 - 20,000 soums (about 1.5-2 €). You can bring bright satin and cotton skullcaps to your friends as inexpensive exotic presents. The cost of these national hats on the market is from 5000 soums (approximately 0.5 €).
Samarkand silk carpets are very beautiful. These expensive products should be purchased first hand - right at the famous Khujum carpet factory, where interesting excursions and there is a company store. It also sells patterned bathrobes, outerwear, scarves, bedding.
Among the delicious souvenirs from Samarkand are white cotton honey (1 kg - 20,000 soums). We recommend you try Navat - crystals of sugar and boiled grape juice with honey and spices. You can also choose sweet treats from dozens of types of halva and other oriental desserts. On the road, slices of dried melon, golden Samarkand raisins, fragrant dried apricots, juicy prunes will not lose their qualities.
Amazing spices are popular. Dizzy aromas reign in the ranks of spice dealers, here you will find amazing flavors from around the world - zira and barberry, sesame and saffron, cinnamon and nutmeg, mint, ginger, anise, star anise, many kinds of pepper, ground almonds, a mixture of nuts and dried fruits . It is worth considering that some seasonings from India, China, Tibet, Indonesia and Pakistan have a very specific smell and taste. For example, Tibetan salt with its unpleasant smell of hydrogen sulfide or the foul-smelling Indian asafoetida spice. The bags contain selected mixtures of ingredients for preparing various dishes, but their contents remain a mystery - sellers do not indicate the composition and proportions of spices on the labels, at best something like “For pilaf” or “For lamb” will be written. It will be useful to bring along an indelible marker to mark the purpose of the mixture contained in it.
From local alcohol it is worth buying black Samarkand balm, infused with 28 herbs. The cost of a bottle of healing and tasty drink is from 50,000 soums (4.77 €). The lagan will cost about the same amount - a large glazed dish for serving pilaf, at the same price a set of beautiful ceramic bowls for drinks with a teapot.
It is impossible to indifferently pass by the skillful products of woodcarvers. For a small patterned casket made of solid, like stone, wood of elm, sellers ask 20,000 - 25,000 soums. Lovers of oriental music are offered national musical instruments decorated with inlays and carved patterns. Learning to play the tanbour or dutar is not easy, but in any case, these exotic instruments will decorate your living room, reminding you of a trip to Samarkand.
Beautiful copyright works are sold in numerous souvenir shops of Samarkand. A good selection of jewelry and souvenirs is offered on the windows of the Chorsu Art Gallery on Tashkent Street. In the house number 43 on the same street is the art gallery "Bird of Happiness", which sells national women's dresses with gold embroidery, elegant jewelry.
Cafes and restaurants
In the restaurants of Samarkand you will find any dishes to your taste, but the main treat here is Uzbek pilaf. Popular rumor ascribes the invention of pilaf to the military cooks of Alexander the Great. They say that during a campaign against Sogdiana, only bags of rice and mutton were once left in the train of his army. The cooks prepared a hearty porridge with meat and aromatic steppe herbs from them - a prototype of the Uzbek pilaf.
In each institution of Samarkand, pilaf is cooked in its own way. Thanks to the “secret” set of spices and the choice of rice, meat, vegetables, the dish has a different taste and aroma. Gourmets pay attention to the subtle nuances of tastes and aftertaste. If you don’t like fatty mutton with a spicy taste, order a sweet pilaf with honey, fruits, nutmeg, delicate almonds and saffron.
Uzbek dishes are excellently prepared in the famous Samarkand restaurant (54 Mahmud Kashgari St.). The check for a hearty lunch without alcohol will not exceed 52,000 - 75,000 soums (5-7 €) per person. The restaurant is open from 10:15 to 22:45. You will be surprised by the low prices in other restaurants of the city.
In the markets and streets of Samarkand, many eateries are open from morning to night. In any teahouse, you can very cheaply satisfy your hunger with a fragrant Samarkand cake, delicious samsa, a portion of pilaf, shurpa or lagman. At the Siab market, lunch from a portion of soup, pilaf, salad, fresh tortillas and a glass of tea will cost 8,000 soums.
In fast-food establishments with a “western” bias, you need to pay 3000-5000 soums for a hot dog with sausage and spicy seasoning, hamburgers and cheeseburgers cost 6000-8000 soums each, grilled chicken is served for 22,000 soums, portioned fries for 2000 soums. The ubiquitous Italian pizza with an Uzbek “accent” in Samarkand costs from 16,000 to 22,000 soums. For a bowl with a portion of cream ice cream you need to pay about 1000 soums, the same amount will cost a glass of tea or a cup of strong black coffee.
Where to stay
Samarkand has a fairly wide selection of hotels - from four-star hotels to affordable guest houses. Many hostels are located in the city center, close to the main attractions. Wealthy travelers stay at the chic Registan Plaza 4 * hotel, located near the Gur Emir Mausoleum. For the room here you need to pay from 74 to 210 € per day (breakfast is included).
Tourists note the high level of service and the friendliness of the staff in the newly built hotel. In summer, part of the restaurant tables is arranged in the garden, by the outdoor pool. By agreement, a minibus meets guests at the airport. The cost of daily living is 115-173 €.
Among the best hotels in Samarkand is Hotel Grand Samarkand Superior 4 *. Spacious rooms are decorated with oriental luxury, there is a swimming pool on the roof of the building, a restaurant and a bar, a sauna, a massage parlor are at guests' disposal, and there is a winter garden in the courtyard with exotic plants and songbirds. The cost of living here starts from 117 €. Another popular four star hotel is 
Good feedback collected in the 2019 season (Tursunova St., 127). The recently renovated rooms are equipped with new furniture and sanitary ware, TVs, air conditioning, equipped kitchenettes. Buffet breakfast is served on the summer terrace overlooking the garden. For an additional fee, the hostess conducts culinary master classes in preparing national dishes. There is an inexpensive cafe next door. A daily stay will cost 34-46 €.
Near the walls of the Bibi-Khanum mosque there is a 3 * Bibikhanum hotel (10 Tashkentskaya St.). A gift shop and a beauty salon are located in the lobby. Next door is an art cafe, a restaurant with national cuisine, the largest market in the city, an tourist information desk and a currency exchange. Breakfast is served on the rooftop terrace (buffet included in the price). The price range is 59-69 € per day.
Buses No. 8, 10, 19, 23, 31, 37, 52 and 60 go from the airport to the city center and other areas of Samarkand from 06:00 to 0:00. Travel time - 15-20 minutes, ticket price - 1200 soums (0.11 €). A taxi ride will cost 12,000 - 13,000 soums.
You should go south-east, along the M5 highway, in the direction of Ryazan, or along the M4 highway, in the direction of Tambov. The path will pass through the historical cities of Russia, which you will probably want to explore. In Kazakhstan, you will pass through Baikonur, in Uzbekistan - through Tashkent. You have to overcome 3453-3676 km, depending on the chosen path. A trip with a shift driver and brief stops for rest and snack will take about 64 hours.
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The history of Samarkand originates several thousand years ago and is not inferior to such ancient cities as: Athens, Babylon, Rome and Memphis. People gave the city many names. Today, the capital of the empire of Tamerlane is unofficially called "Eden of the East", "Rome of the East" and "Pearl of the Muslim world." Until you go here and see all the beauties, these names seem to be just words. Therefore, finish the theoretical part of getting acquainted with the "Eden of the East" and come. You will see a city full of attractions that opens up unforgettable spectacles behind its gates.
But the formation of Samarkand was not easy, the troops of Alexander the Great, the Arab invaders and the troops of Genghis Khan marched on this land. This city could become the capital of the world when Tamerlan was engaged in the expansion of his empire. Ancient sources say that the formation of such legendary people as Ulugbek, Jami, Rudaki, Babur, Omar Khayyam, Mukimi, Avicenna, Sadriddin Aini, etc.
Becoming
The first mentions of Samarkand are found in the Holy Book of Zoroastrianism "Avesta" (1 millennium BC). We learn that farmers lived at the mouth of the Zarafshan River. They occupied the southeastern territory of modern Uzbekistan, which is in a collection of sacred texts like Sughd (Sughd). There was a lot of water, high mountains and large pastures. Marakanda was considered the main city of these lands; Samarkand is now located in its place.
Maracanda, like almost all of Central Asia in the 6th century BC was captured by the Persians. But the victory was not easy for the invaders and the battles were fought for about 200 years. The Greek-speaking writer Polien wrote in his writings about the extraordinary courage of local residents. From the pages of his works we learn about the heroic feat of the shepherd Chirac from the Sak tribe, who cunningly led away the army of Tsar Darius I from the city walls. A shepherd led Persian warriors through the desert for more than seven days, confusing the tracks and leading them as far away from their hometown as possible. The guy understood that this trip would be his last, but did not stop. Having depleted food supplies and languishing from the heat, the Persians guessed the treachery of the shepherd. They offered the young man life if he showed them the right path. But Chirac did not succumb to persuasion and was killed. The detachment wandered around the desert for a long time, but could not get out of its sandy mazes. Therefore, the sacrifice of Chirac was not in vain and brought his people a small but important victory.
Greco-Macedonian conquerors
Persian invaders were expelled only in the 4th century BC. But the inhabitants of Maracada were not free and independent for long. The troops of Alexander of Macedon clashed with the Persian army and forced Darius III to flee. Having become the ruler of Maracanda, Alexander did not stop there and sent troops to the Ferghana Valley, but failed to achieve a quick victory. Maracanda did not want to give up; constant uprisings were organized.
One of the most famous rebellions against the Macedonian yoke was led by Spitamen. It was one of the very first rebellions in the history of Central Asia. For the sake of the struggle for their freedom, the inhabitants of several large cities. The commander understood that even the fact of the uprising itself was an insult to a person who was able to conquer half the world. Therefore, the rebellious inhabitants had to be severely punished. City streets were flooded with blood. The Greeks even used stenobit cars to storm the fortresses. While the main battle was underway, Macedon and a small detachment secretly made their way into the city, passing along the riverbed. As a result, almost all the inhabitants of the city were killed. At this time, the rebels led by Spitamen gave a grand rebuff to the military garrison in Marakanda. Alexander urgently transferred part of his troops to a hot spot. Nomad dahi came to the aid of Spitamen and together they defeated the new Macedonian detachment. The unpleasant news of the defeat made the great commander strengthen his attack on Spitamen. The militia leader realized that the strength of the Greeks was too great and hid in the desert. Enraged warrior units began a demonstrative extermination of the inhabitants. The oasis of Zarafshan was destroyed by the swords of the thousandth army. In the meantime, Spitamen teamed up with the Massagetan tribes to launch a new strike against the enemy. But he could not win the battle and again hid in the sandy valley, to prepare a new resistance.
In 327 BC the invincible Macedonian army went to besiege the uprising on the slopes of the Hissar Range. The soldiers were promised a significant reward for their courage. After a successful special operation, Spitamen's comrade-in-arms, Oxyart, along with his daughter Roxana, were captured. To attract the local nobility, Alexander married a girl and arranged a magnificent celebration on the occasion of the wedding. Encouraged by the gifts, the aristocracy betrayed Spitamen and popular resistance was suppressed. Spitamena was killed as a result of an insidious conspiracy, and Maracanda was almost completely destroyed.
It cannot be said that the reign of Alexander had only disastrous consequences for the country. During this time, new cities were rebuilt, farmers took a higher place in society, slave relations intensified, a Hellenistic culture spread everywhere, and economic ties developed between the countries of the Empire.
Times after the "Macedonian" period
The city of Afrosiab occupies an important place in the history of Samarkand, because it was on its territory that the capital of the empire of Timur was later formed. Now Afrosiab remains an ancient settlement, which is a spacious lifeless hill. Scientists and archaeologists from all over the world come here to explore this amazing area, which has preserved the traces of ancient civilizations.
The sudden demise of Alexander the Great became the reason for the division of the territory of Central Asia between the Seleucid dynasty. The people did not accept the new rulers and rebelled, after long battles the Greco-Bactrian state was formed, uniting Sogdiana, Bactria and Margiana.
In the 1st century A.D. Sogdiana and Bactria became part of the kingdom of Kushan. The years of reign of Kanizhke became a time of prosperity and expansion for the state due to the accession of part of East Turkestan.
At the end of the fifth century, the Kushan kingdom ceased to exist, unable to withstand the constant attacks of the Ephthalite nomads. In the VI century, in the Chinese historical chronicles of the "Northern Courts", Samarkand was first mentioned, where it is called Sivangine.
The composition of the population of Samarkand many centuries ago was very diverse, which is explained by frequent wars and the passage of the Silk Road. The religion of most residents was Zoroastrianism - the cult of fire.
In the 7th century, Samarkand became an important trading and political center of Central Asia. Samarkand lands were captured by the Arabs, who began to spread Islam here. Not all people wanted to change their religion, but the Arabs still managed to convince the pagans of the correctness of belief in the One God.
But having captured Samarkand, the Arabs could not subjugate Sogd. Therefore, from 713 onwards, mass uprisings began against the invaders. One of the largest rebel movements was led by Mukanna.
In anticipation of the arrival of the Mongols
The Arab state could not restrain frequent riots, they greatly weakened it. As a result, the ruling elite, instead of the Arabs, was occupied by the local Samanid dynasty. Its representatives ruled from 819 to 899. During the period from the 11th to the 12th centuries, Samarkand often passed from the hands of some conquerors to others (the Karakhanids, Seljuks, Karakites and Khorezmians ruled here).
Genghis Khan and the Genghis Dynasty
In the spring of 1220, Samarkand was occupied by the army of the Mongol conqueror Genghis Khan. The locals armed themselves and wanted to fight back the enemy, but the authorities did not interfere with the Mongols and opened the gates to them. Not all Samarkandans agreed with this and tried to resist. As a result, about 30 thousand people were sent to Mongolia as prisoners of war, the rest of the rebels were killed. The meeting with Genghis Khan's army ended in global destruction for Samarkand, but he did not stay in ruins for long.
Genghis Khan died soon, and his heirs could not divide the Mongol empire, quickly destroying it. But after 150 years, the descendant of Genghis Khan, Tamerlan was able to unite the land again and create an even greater empire. In 1370, Samarkand became its capital.
In 1405, Timur dies, and his empire collapses as quickly as the state of Genghis Khan. The descendants of Tamerlane conducted a failed policy, internecine wars, and with all their actions only destroyed the once huge empire. The borders of the state were gradually narrowed, trade routes through Samarkand ceased to be of paramount importance, and the country's economic situation worsened more and more every year.
XVI to XXI century
In the XVI century, the Turkic-Mongolian tribes were united under the rule of the Sheibanids dynasty. They came to power after the complete destruction of all Timurid aristocrats in the ruling elite. Samarkand continues to be a large city, where handicraft is developed and scientific life is actively flowing.
The beginning of the XVII century until the XVIII century began for the city years of decline. The situation improved only from the end of the XVIII century, when the city authorities began to restore the old quarters and build new ones. Gradually, Samarkand became more beautiful and attractive for life.
On May 2, 1868, the city entered the Russian Empire as the center of the Zarafshan district. Later it became the center of the Samarkand region. After laying railway tracks through Samarkand, its significance increased.
From 1917 to 1991, Soviet rule in Samarkand
power, but then for the city, as for the whole of Uzbekistan, comes
long-awaited independence.
Samarkand is a stunning, diverse and extraordinary city of Uzbekistan. Over the long years of the city’s existence, its name has changed more than once. During this time, many ruling dynasties succeeded each other, rebuilt it, destroyed and burned, and then rebuilt again and so on.
For a long time Samarkand was the capital of the famous empire of Tamerlane. It is not inferior in age to such world cities - long-livers as Rome, Babylon and Athens. He attracted the interest of famous politicians, businessmen and numerous travelers. During the reign of Amir Timur, the city received a special flourishing. The great ruler was able to turn Samarkand into the center of his vast empire. Due to its advantageous geographical location, it has become a commercial junction of the Great Silk Road.
The Old Town has preserved many magnificent buildings of medieval architecture. The main attraction is the mausoleum complex, which is located on the slopes of Afrosiab. The beginning of its construction dates back to the 12th century. Central development was carried out for 14 - 15 centuries, under Timur. Basically, women - relatives of Timur are buried there. All the tombs have rich architectural decor in the form of carved mosaics, painted majolica and irrigation terracotta.
Today, the administrative center - the city of Samarkand, is the second largest in the country after. Its area is close to 100 sq. Km. The city is administratively divided into three large areas.
According to the official census of 2007, 366 thousand people lived in Samarkand. The ethnic composition of the inhabitants is heterogeneous, but Tajiks, Uzbeks, Russians, Jews and Iranians live here most of all. Languages \u200b\u200bprevail: Tajik, Uzbek and Russian. influenced the fact that ethnic Tajiks live most of all in Samarkand today. For this reason, the Tajik language is very common here, and although it does not have an official status in the city, it remains the main language in communication between residents of different nationalities. Note that Tajik communities are not numerous and they are mainly located in the suburbs.
How old is Samarkand?
Hypothetically, Samarkand may be the same age as Rome and Athens, but to know exactly how old he is we cannot. There are many assumptions regarding this issue, but all of them are only theoretical, and due to the old age, we cannot verify these conjectures. Therefore, we have only one thing left, to consider some theories and listen to the one that seems more realistic to us.
The first assumption is 2750 years. Scientists studied the results of radio-nucleic acid analyzes of the lower layer of the earth, which were carried out in 2004 on the territory of the Afrosiab settlement. They believe that these data are not complete and that assumptions about the age of the city will still vary depending on the results of further studies of the soil in the lower layers.
A number of Arab historical scholars also join the conclusion that the city is at least 2750 years old. They explain their assumption by the fact that in this matter it is necessary to build on the birth of the prophet Muhammad, and this is 5-6 centuries BC
Another version calls the figure - 3700 years. This assumption was made by the famous Arab historian named Abu Hafs Omar. He was sure that by the time of the Arab capture of Samarkand (in the 7th century), the city had already reached 2500 years of age. Therefore, we can assume that the city was founded in the 2nd millennium BC.
Another, the most common version says that Samarkand is 4500 years old. A significant part of the Arab historians of the Middle Ages joins this opinion. They wrote that the city was founded 3 thousand years before the advent of the Prophet, and this is the third millennium BC.
Where did the name of the city come from?
The difficulty of knowing the absolute truth about Samarkand. Most likely, this is due to his ancient age. After all, it is simply impossible to find the necessary documents where all the information that interests a modern person would be accurately and clearly indicated. For this reason, today we can only guess, guess and work on the decoding of ancient texts. Everyone wants understanding, clarity and historical truth. But the absence of riddles would make our life uninteresting, monotonous, and we would not need to learn something unknown. So the course of our life is determined.
There are many versions regarding the origin of the name of the city of Samarkand. Numerous legends and folk tales have served as evidence of some versions, and historical scientific studies serve as an explanation of others.
So, one of the legends connects the name of the city with the name of a certain Samara. He became famous for the fact that in the place of the city he was able to dig a spring and extract water from it. Later, people began to live near the spring, the population grew, and so the city was founded. The people remembered Samara’s deed and named his settlement “Samarkand” in his honor, and literally this word can be translated as “Samar dug up”.
Another legend claims that the city was named after the scientists who led the construction of the city, Samar and Kamar. The prefix “kand” can come from “kent”, which means “city”. According to this legend, Samara and Kamara were buried near the Registan Square.
According to another legend, the above-mentioned names did not belong at all to the builders of the city, and so they called Tsar Samara and his wife Tsarina Kamar and built the city precisely on the orders of this ruler.
There is also a romantic legend, which says that the first settlements were built on the site of modern Samarkand in the name of love and loyalty of a young couple, their names were Samara and Kand.
Another romantic tradition is associated with Alexander the Great. It says that the city was built by order of this ruler, who was in love with charming Samar. He named the city after this girl.
Scientists are far from romantic in the issue of the origin of the name of the city and therefore they adhere to a more reasoned version.
The word "Samarkand" comes from the Turkic phrase "Simiz Kent", which means "Rich Settlement". And, most likely, this Turkic phrase came from the Chinese expression "Si-mi-se-kan", which means "Fat City". Such evidence of the city was found in numerous historical documents written by travelers from different continents.
The Greek variation of the name of the city sounds like "Maracanda." This name could come from the ancient Persian word "Maurakand", meaning approximately this: "A city on a river whose banks are overgrown with vegetation." Such a name could probably correspond to the truth, because Samarkand is located in a river valley, along the banks of which tugs grow magnificent. Another version says that “Marakanda” is translated from the ancient Persian language as “Graceful city” and that vegetation has nothing to do with it.
The symbol of the city
For many centuries, the mighty Leopard has been the permanent symbol of Samarkand. The inhabitants of the city have legends about this animal. According to one of them, while laying the foundation of the city, a leopard decided to go down to the people from the tops of the mountains. The beast went around the new buildings, approved the initiative of the people and retired back to the mountains. Since that time, for the inhabitants of Samarkand, Bars is not just a strong and courageous animal, it has become a real symbol of the city. The leopard is depicted on the banner and coat of arms of the city. It symbolizes power, power and the sun. A leopard with the Sun blazing on its back adorns the Sher-Dor madrassah, as the personification of the ruling person. His strength and power are equal to the power of earth and heaven. Therefore, only Leopard can carry the vital Star.
Everyone who enters the city is greeted by Leopard, who raises his paw forward. This gesture means that the city sincerely welcomes its guests and wishes them good and prosperity.
Note that the Leopard with a blazing Sun on its back is depicted not only on the building