Uzbekistan General Information - History - Amir Temur

Amir Temur

Having joined the divided territories of Central Asia, Amir Temur created a powerful state with its capital in Samarkand.

In 1380 Amir Temur launched military campaigns to other countries. As a result, Iran, Trans-Caucasus, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Northern India, and others were conquered.

Amir Temur governed the vast country through his sons, grandsons, and confidants by appointing them as rulers in different regions and countries.

The establishment of a centralized country in the region paved the way for the development of economy broken apart by the rule of the Mongols. Also, agriculture prospered, as well as craftsmanship, internal and external trade. The living standards of the people were on the rise. Samarkand, especially, changed for the better very much. Talented artists, architects, and scholars from various countries worked and lived in the capital. Besides, the city became a unique center for both cultural and scientific development that dictated the fashion in art, handicraft, architecture, poetry, literature, music, and celebration of festivals and performances.

Thanks to his political power and goals, Amir Temur revived and improved the institutions of state, as well as social and military administration.

The brilliant rise of science, architecture, town planning, literature, both fine and applied arts represent this unique period.

Following the death of Amir Temur, his state broke up into two. The one in Khorasan with its center in Herat led by his son, Shokhrukh, and another in Maverannakhr (the area between two rivers, the Syr Darya and the Amu Darya; now Central Asia) - with its center in Samarkand, and led by Shokhrukh's son - Ulughbek, as well as other small areas, also ruled by the Temur descendants.

The borders of Ulughbek's state almost coincide with those of present day Uzbekistan. Ulughbek is known as a great medieval scientist-astronomer, both organizer and patron of science and the arts.

At that time great scholars lived in Samarkand, where an observatory was put in place, thus turning the city into a center for scientific thought. After the tragic death of Ulughbek in 1449, both Khorasan and Maveranakhr broke up into sovereign territories. Maveranakhr was now to be ruled by the counselor of Temur rulers, Shaykh Ubaydullah Khoja Akhror.

While Samarkand was taken over by both economic and cultural depression, Herat at the time saw a comparatively higher level of development. It was due significantly to the enormous work by the chief minister at Sultan Husseyn 's court - Alisher Navoi, the poet and scholar. He patronized the people of art and science, administered the construction of madrasah, public buildings, canals, and bridges.

In 1499 the nomadic tribes from north - the Kipchak steppes - led by Sbaybanikhan invaded Maveranakhr thus putting to an end the rule of the Temur dynasty in Central Asia. The nomadic tribes that came over as a result of the invasion gradually assimilated with the local population of the region. Furthermore, Bukhara took over the status of Samarkand as an economic and cultural center, and the rule of newcomers was to be referred to as the Bukhara khanate.