This is a book about the fascinating city of Samarkand, a city rich in the splendid relics of ancient Central Asian civilisations.

There is many a legend surrounding its history. Its praises have been sung by the writers and poets of old and it has been the home of great scholars and architects whose works still stand in all their glory to delight and amaze us.

Translated by Kathleen Cook Designed by Leonid Shkanov
Photographs by: V. Panov, G. Zelman, N. Rakhmanov, D. Smirnov, V. Gippenreiter, A. Shagin, N. Granovsky, TASS, APN

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INTRODUCTION 5

SAMARKAND OVER THE CENTURIES
History up to the Revolution 13
Spread of New Ideas 29

TO GREET THE DAWN
The Fight for Freedom 39
Birth of a New Life 44

SAMARKAND TODAY AND TOMORROW
Industry and Agriculture 55
Building and Town Planning 62
Education 68
Science and Culture 76
Health 83
Samarkand Tomorrow 87

ANCIENT MONUMENTS
Afrasiab 99
Bibi Khanum Mosque 106
Bibi Khanum Mausoleum 110
Gur Emir Mausoleum 111
Ak Sarai Mausoleum 117
Ruhabad Mausoleum 118
Shah Zindeh 118
Registan 131
Ulugh Beg Madrasah 135
Ulugh Beg Observatory 139
Ishrat Khan 144
Khoja Abdu-Darun, Khoja Abdu-Birun
and Chupan Ata Mausoleums 145
Zarafshan Bridge 147
Shaibanid Dahma 147
Shir Dor Madrasah 147
Tilla Kari Madrasah 151
Chor Su 153

REVOLUTIONARY MONUMENTS

First Library 157
Underground Printing Press 159
Officers’ Club 162
Freedom Monument 164
Museum of the History
of Culture and Art 167
Lenin Statue 171
The Registan and the Revolution 174
Monument to Fallen Heroes 178

Contents 184