| Uzbekistan lies at the heart of the Great Silk | | | | Samarkand into a magnificent capital for his |
| Road. For centuries, oases of Samarkand, | | | | empire. Importing artisans from conquered |
| Bukhara and Khiva brought respite to the | | | | territories, He and later rulers commissioned |
| caravans as they made their way across the | | | | majestic buildings many of which still stand. |
| desert. A tour through this country immerses you | | | | Central among them is the Registan, which was |
| in the essence of the progress of civilization as it | | | | the heart of the city. Madrasahs or Muslim |
| moved west. | | | | religious academies face three sides of the |
| Today, Uzbekistan preserves this heritage while | | | | square, giving, one built by Tamerlane's grandson |
| striving to bring its largely rural, historically nomadic | | | | who also built an observatory which he used to |
| populations better lives in a post-Soviet world. | | | | advance the science of astronomy during his |
| Slightly larger in area than California and with a | | | | reign. |
| population of 26 million, Uzbekistan contains more | | | | Another legendary city is Bukhara, lying to the |
| than half of Central Asia's people. | | | | west. Another oases for Silk Road caravans, |
| Known as the 'sunny republic,' Uzbekistan is arid | | | | Bukhara became one of the great learning |
| with annual rainfall between only 4 and 8 inches. | | | | centers in the Muslim world and spawned the |
| But its heavily irrigated river valleys make it the | | | | mystical Sufi sect of Islam. The city today still |
| second largest cotton exporter in the world. It | | | | contains 350 mosques and supports more than |
| also contains important mineral resources and is a | | | | 100 religious academies. With narrow streets, |
| world leader in gold production. | | | | many parks and gardens, numerous historical sites |
| Historically, Uzbekistan is exceedingly rich, making | | | | and lively bazaars, a visit to this ancient city will |
| it a truly great tourist destination. More than 4,000 | | | | satisfy a diverse range of interests. Travel here |
| historic sites dot the country, and thus its stature | | | | and you are sure to find something that |
| as the pearl of the ancient Silk Road. Civilization | | | | resonates with your spirit. |
| was already ancient here when Alexander the | | | | Further west still, you come to a museum under |
| Great conquered the region in the 4th Century | | | | the blue sky, Khiva. A city reputed to have been |
| BC. Up until the discovery of ocean routes to | | | | founded by Shem, one of the Biblical Noah's sons, |
| India and China, Uzbekistan lay at the crossroads | | | | Khiva has preserved its ancient past and been |
| of communication between East and West and | | | | turned into a living record of its days as a key |
| was the center of trade and exchange of ideas. | | | | center of trade along the Silk Road. The historic |
| The conqueror Tamerlane (1336-1405) was born | | | | center of the city contains spectacular examples |
| near present day Shahrisabz and created an | | | | of Islamic architecture. Palaces, minarets and |
| empire that extended throughout Central Asia to | | | | mausoleums from centuries ago have been |
| Turkey and south to the Ganges. Tamerlane was | | | | preserved and refurbished making Khiva a lens |
| also a patron of the arts and transformed | | | | through which you can gaze into history. |