The Silk Road: The Silk Road was a trading route between China and the West that served as the most important link between the two vastly different regions for nearly two thousand years. The unofficial figure is over 6 million Tajiks. Omissions? Artisans and stonemasons from India designed the mosque's dome, giving it its distinctive appearance amongst the other buildings. Researchers at the Institute of Archaeology of Samarkand date the city's founding to the 8th–7th centuries BCE. Sims-Wlliams Nicholas, A christian sogdian polemic against the manichaens // Religious themes and texts of pre-Islamic Iran and Central Asia. [26] Qutayba generally did not settle Arabs in Central Asia; he forced the local rulers to pay him tribute but largely left them to their own devices. answer . Samarkand has several other mausoleums, madrasas, and mosques dating from the 15th to the 17th century, though they are not as impressive as the structures from Timur’s day. Samarkand was one of the cities in which the Persian language developed. [37], In 1365, a revolt against Chagatai Mongol control occurred in Samarkand.[38]. islamic advances in literature ap world history. Tarek Sahyoun AP World History Unit 3 Vocabulary * Bedouins are pretty much the stereotypical Arabs because of their culture based on herding camels and goats * I would have liked to be a Shaykh if I lived in a Bedouin society because they usually possessed large herds. Turko-Mongol influence is also apparent in Samarkand's architecture. As explained by Paul Bergne: During the census of 1926 a significant part of the Tajik population was registered as Uzbek. Wiesbaden: Dr. Ludwig Reichert Verlag, 2003, p.399-407. Despite Tajik being the second most common language in Samarkand, it does not enjoy the status of an official or regional language. This Iranian-speaking people had a fifteen-centuries-long historical identity between the sixth century BCE and the tenth century CE when it vanished in the Muslim, Persian-speaking world. technologies, including the . Part 1: The Indian Ocean World … [25], After the Arab conquest of Iran, the Turks conquered Samarkand and held it until the Turkic Khaganate collapsed due to wars with the Chinese Tang Dynasty. Question 16 30 seconds 1976, p.3. They are concentrated in the Sukhandarya, Samarqand and Bukhara regions. There are Uzbek and Russian theatres, a university (established 1933), and higher-educational institutions for agriculture, medicine, architecture, and trade. [6] In 2001, UNESCO added the city to its World Heritage List as Samarkand – Crossroads of Cultures. AP World History Unit 1 IDs. During World War II, after Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union, a number of Samarkand's citizens were sent to Smolensk to fight the enemy. AP World: Modern Overview; POST CLASSICAL (1200-1450) EARLY MODERN (1450-1750) MODERN PERIOD (1750-1900) CONTEMPORARY PERIOD (1900-PRESENT) AP WORLD PEOPLE TO KNOW; RIP AP WORLD HISTORY. Unit 2: Networks of Exchange Exam Study Guide C. 1200 - c. 1450 Topic 2.1 Silk Roads Learning 1200 and 400 B.C.E., the Olmec people of central Mexico created a vibrant civilization that included intensive … Karl Cordell, "Ethnicity and Democratisation in the New Europe", Routledge, 1998. p. 201: "Consequently, the number of citizens who regard themselves as Tajiks is difficult to determine. in search of a better life, others were sold as slaves there by Turkmen captors, and others were soldiers who were posted to Samarkand. 1450. [3], By the time of the Achaemenid Empire of Persia, it was the capital of the Sogdian satrapy. an oasis town along the silk roads in central Asia; place where merchants & caravans found food, rest, lodging, and markets; became cosmopolitan center; conquered by the … Some migrated there economies: Bills of exchange Banking houses … Save. Part 3: Caravans and the Impact of Long-Distance Trade Print this page. The Bibi-Khanym Mosque, rebuilt during the Soviet era, remains one of the city's most notable landmarks. Genetic studies point to China as having been the primary source of the contagion. Under Samanid rule the city became a capitol of the Samanid dynasty and an even more important node of numerous trade routes. [39] The chamber in which Timur's own body was laid included "tugs", poles whose tops were hung with a circular arrangement of horse or yak tail hairs. Many scholars claim that the Timurid period was the peak of Samarkand’s history. At its height, it was the largest empire in history and, for over a century, was the foremost global power. Uzbek is one of the Turkic languages and the mother tongue of Uzbeks, Turkmens, Samarkandian Iranians, and most Samarkandian Arabs living in Samarkand. Armenian Christians began emigrating to Samarkand at the end of the 19th century, this flow increasing especially in the Soviet era. Materialy po istorii Sredney i Tsentral'noy Azii X—XIX veka. Her main instrument was the wall quadrant, which had no equal in the world.[43]. The dominant architectural color is blue, which Timur used to convey a broad range of concepts. Approximately 70% of Samarkand residents are Tajik (Persian)-speaking Tajiks. History. In 1218, a friend of Genghis Khan named Yelü Chucai reported that Samarkand was the most beautiful city of all, as "it was surrounded by numerous gardens. AP World History: Modern can lead to a wide range of careers and college majors . 2008. The old city contains some of the finest monuments of Central Asian architecture from the 14th to the 20th century, including several buildings dating from the time when Samarkand was Timur’s capital city. [44], Abdulatif Khan, the son of Mirzo Ulugbek's grandson Kuchkunji Khan, who ruled in Samarkand in 1540-1551, was considered an expert in the history of Maverannahr and the Shibanid dynasty. Choose a style to view it in the preview to the left. Samarkand also has international railway connections: Saratov–Samarkand, Moscow–Samarkand, and Nur-Sultan–Samarkand. Tashent: 1979. His other books included Al-Adab al-Mufrad. 1966, Fazlallakh ibn Ruzbikhan Isfakhani. View AP World History_ Unit 2 Study Guide.docx from GEOG MISC at Kennesaw State University. 0. Only after it became a provincial capital of the Russian Empire (1887) and a railroad centre did it recover economically. Samarkand today consists of an old city dating from medieval times and a new section built after the Russian conquest of the area in the 19th century. LEARNING OBJECTIVE: HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENTS: Unit 2: Learning Objective A: Explain the causes and effects of growth of … … Print; Share; Edit; Delete; Host a game. The growth of interregional trade in . [41] Henry III's ambassador Ruy Gonzalez de Clavijo, who was stationed at Samarkand between 1403 and 1406, attested to the never-ending construction that went on in the city. Every year, the Shiites of Samarkand celebrate Ashura, as well as other memorable Shiite dates and holidays. Compare and contrast the reasons or motivations for the invasion/migration of both the Crusaders and the Mongols. The first dated news about the Shaybani Khan madrasah dates back to 1504 (it was completely destroyed during the years of Soviet power). Po materialam «Vakf-name». During the reign of the Ashtarkhanid Imamkuli-Khan (1611-1642) famous architectural masterpieces were built in Samarkand. [4] The city was ruled by a succession of Iranian and Turkic rulers until it was conquered by the Mongols under Genghis Khan in 1220. Core and Fundamental Civilizations (required: Mesopotamia) --YouTube video: “Mesopotamia: The Cradle of … Buryakov Y.F. Samarkand, city in east-central Uzbekistan that is one of the oldest cities of Central Asia. An 1897 earthquake destroyed the columns, which were not entirely restored in the subsequent reconstruction. Silk Road The Silk Road began as the Han Dynasty was seeking allies to help fight against the Xiongnu way before 1200. The blueprint and layout of the mosque itself, with their precise measurements, demonstrate the Islamic passion for geometry. Samarkand During the rule of Timur Lane was the most influential captial city, a wealthy trading center known for decorated mosques and tombs. [18], In the early Middle Ages, Samarkand was surrounded by four rows of defensive walls and had four gates. The Samarkandian TV channel STV conducts some broadcasts in Russian. The following styles are associated with this data set. [39] By his orders, Samarkand could be reached only by roads; deep ditches were dug, and walls 8 kilometres (5 miles) in circumference separated the city from its surrounding neighbors. This Hellenistic legacy continued as the city became part of various successor states in the centuries following Alexander's death, i.e. Ansambl Shah-i Zinda: istoriko-arkhitektymyi ocherk. Christianity reappeared in Samarkand several centuries later, from the mid-19th century onward, after the city was seized by the Russian Empire. Under Ulugbek Samarkand became one of the world centers of medieval science. Samarkand is located in northeastern Uzbekistan, in the Zarefshan River valley, 135 km from Qarshi. [10] Written sources offer small clues as to the subsequent system of government;[11] they mention one Orepius who became ruler "not from ancestors, but as a gift of Alexander. Modern Samarkand is divided into two parts: the old city, and the new city, which was developed during the days of the Russian Empire and Soviet Union. Timur's commitment to the arts is evident in how, in contrast with the ruthlessness he showed his enemies, he demonstrated mercy toward towards those with special artistic abilities. It clearly lays out the course content and describes the exam and the AP Program in general. Samarkand and surroundings devolved to Ulugbek, Timur’s grandson. The city has carefully preserved the traditions of ancient crafts: embroidery, goldwork, silk weaving, copper engraving, ceramics, wood carving, and wood painting. By 1922 the British Empire held sway over about 458 million people, one-fifth of the world’s population at the time, and covered more than 33,700,000 km 2 (13,012,000 sq mi), almost a quarter of the Earth’s total land area. … Many yellow taxis on the streets of Samarkand, Taxi and tram on Rudaki Street in Samarkand, Taxi and bus on Mirzo Ulughbek Avenue in Samarkand. Paper Currency developed in the Tang Dynasty during the 7th Century (618-907 C.E). [77], The third largest Christian sect in Samarkand is the Armenian Apostolic Church, followed by a few tens of thousands of Armenian Samarkandians. (Mostly) Middle East-Themed Resources for Use in AP World History Period 1 (Technological and Environmental Transformations, to c. 600 BCE) Key Concept 1.3. Live Game Live. The discussion of change over time in a single region is a key component of the AP curriculum. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. From 1599 to 1756, Samarkand was ruled by the Ashtrakhanid branch of the Khanate of Bukhara. The city’s industry is now based primarily on agriculture, with cotton ginning, silk spinning and weaving, fruit canning, and the production of wine, clothing, leather and footwear, and tobacco. Samarkand. Among the latter structures are the mosque of Bībī-Khānom (1399–1404), a building that was commissioned by Timur’s favourite Chinese wife, and Timur’s tomb itself, the Gūr-e Amīr mausoleum, built about 1405. By the 18th century it had declined, and from the 1720s to the 1770s it was uninhabited. It sits where the Taklamakan Desert ... Samarkand was a center of cultural exchange as much as it was a center for trading goods. AP World History RHS Mrs. Osborn Wonderful World of MAPS . The city was in a state of constant construction, and Timur would often order buildings to be done and redone quickly if he was unsatisfied with the results. [34] After Genghis Khan conquered Central Asia, foreigners were chosen as governmental administrators; Chinese and Qara-Khitays (Khitans) were appointed as co-managers of gardens and fields in Samarkand, which Muslims were not permitted to manage on their own. [7], The name comes from Sogdian samar, "fort, town," and kand, "stone, rock."[8]. Chapter 1: Before History; The Evolution of Homo Sapiens; The Homonids; Australopithecus; Homo erectus ; Migrations of Homo erectus ; Homo sapiens; Language; Migrations of Homo sapiens; The Peopling of the World; The Natural Environment; Paleolithic Society; Economy and … Corrections? In the extreme west and southwest of Samarkand is a population of Central Asian Arabs, who mostly speak Uzbek; only a small portion of the older generation speaks Central Asian Arabic. This is a map created and being worked on by us, Taskin and Vincent, two former AP World History students at Roy C. Ketcham High School, under Dr. Michael Panzer. Samarkand. [35][36] The khanate allowed the establishment of Christian bishoprics (see below). The story of Samarkand is woven around the history of the manuscript of the Rubaiyaat of Omar Khayyam, from its creation by the poet and sage in eleventh-century Persia to its loss when the Titanic sank in 1912. [51][52] Additionally, thousands of refugees from the occupied western regions of the USSR fled to the city and it served as one of the main hubs for the fleeing civilians in the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic and the Soviet Union as a whole. M. Vostochnaya literatura. Samarkand_2hq SLD. Plan to spend two or three days discovering this ancient Silk Road city with the following … Masson M.Ye., Proiskhozhdeniye dvukh nestorianskikh namogilnykh galek Sredney Azii // Obshchestvennyye nauki v Uzbekistane, 1978, №10, p.53. These peoples have emigrated to Samarkand since the end of the 19th century, especially during the Soviet Era; by and large, they speak the Russian language. Several Russian-language newspapers are published in Samarkand, the most popular of which is "Samarkandskiy vestnik" (Russian: Самаркандский вестник — Samarkand Herald). 1. A sweeping summary of the region throughout all of world history by the most respected Middle Eastern scholar in America. ... Timur was the son of a minor noble, and he and his mother were captured by raiders and held in the great city of Samarkand. Translated by James Ward. The Samarqand Vilayat is one of the two regions of Uzbekistan (along with Bukhara Vilayat) that is home to a large number of Shiites. [48] * I was surprised to hear that Muhammad’s flight to … Over the next 35 years, he rebuilt most of the city and populated it with great artisans and craftsmen from across the empire. AP World History 5th Period Hinduism is a religion which originated in India. Many classical Persian poets and writers lived in or visited Samarkand over the millennia, the most famous being Abulqasem Ferdowsi, Omar Khayyam, Abdurahman Jami, Abu Abdullah Rudaki, Suzani Samarqandi, and Kamal Khujandi. Samarkand derived its commercial importance in ancient and medieval times from its location at the junction of trade routes from China and India. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. History. Moskva «Sofiya», 2006. In 1428, the construction of the Ulugbek observatory was completed. In 557-561, the Hephthalites empire was defeated by joint actions of the Turks and Sassanids, which led to the establishment of a common border between the two empires. Save. "[42], In 1417-1420, Timur's grandson Ulugbek built a madrasah in Samarkand, which became the first building in the architectural ensemble of Registan. Furthermore, blue represented water, a particularly rare resource in the Middle East and Central Asia; walls painted blue symbolized the wealth of the city. Source 2: Pogoda.ru.net (mean temperatures/humidity/snow days 1981–2010, record low and record high temperatures). Trading cities such as Kashgar and Samarkand grew massively as merchants began to exchange their goods from all over the world. In addition to Uzbek, Tajik, and Russian, native languages spoken in Samarkand include Ukrainian, Armenian, Azerbaijani, Tatar, Crimean Tatar, Arabic (for a very small percentage of Samarkandian Arabs), and others. 78 WORLD HISTORY MODERN: EDITION . The greenery of the trees and sown land extends along both sides of the river [Sogd]... and beyond these fields is pasture for flocks. 9th - 12th grade. Ap world history Ch 14. Geographically speaking, the Song Dynasty helped to spread the idea of a paper currency throughout the world. AP World History Geography Summer Assignment You do not have to do this project if: Students who completed the summer assignment as part of AP Human Geography last year are excused from this assignment. Р.219-220. Tashkent: Fan, 1988, рр. Timur's fascination with vaulting explains the excessive use of gold in the Gur-i Amir, as well as the use of embroidered gold fabric in both the city and his buildings. —Ташкент: Издательство литературы и искусства имени Гафура Гуляма, 1988. On the initiative of Academician of the Academy of Sciences of the Uzbek SSR I. Muminov and with the support of Sharaf Rashidov, the 2500th anniversary of Samarkand was widely celebrated in 1970. From the Soviet Era up until 2005, Samarkandians also got around via trolleybus. July and August are the hottest months of the year, with temperatures reaching and exceeding 40 °C (104 °F). Despite the devastation wrought by Mongols to Samarkand's pre-Timurid Islamic architecture, under Timur these architectural styles were revived, recreated, and restored. Christianity was introduced to Samarkand when it was part of Soghdiana, long before the penetration of Islam into Central Asia. Several Nestorian temples were built in Samarkand, but they have not survived. AP WORLD: MODERN. The following styles are associated with this data set. Rīgestān Square, an impressive public square in the old city, is fronted by several madrasas (Islamic schools): that of Timur’s grandson, the astronomer Ulūgh Beg (1417–20), and those of Shirdar (1619–1635/36) and Tilakari (mid-17th century), which together border the square on three sides. From 1756 to 1868, it was ruled by the Manghud Emirs of Bukhara. Quraishi, Silim "A survey of the development of papermaking in Islamic Countries", Kochnev B. D., Numizmaticheskaya istoriya Karakhanidskogo kaganata (991—1209 gg.). These Christian movements appeared in Samarkand mainly after the independence of Uzbekistan in 1991. PDF; 4.15 MB; See Where AP Can Take You. Nonetheless, Samarkand remained one of the largest and most important stations of the Uzbekistan SSR and Soviet Central Asia. After Marco Polo visited China, he introduced Europe to the idea of a paper currency in the 13 Century. It exhibits the influences of many cultures, past civilizations, neighboring peoples, and religions, especially those of Islam. Sankt-Peterburg: Filologicheskiy fakul'tet SPbGU, 2005 god, s. 97. For the other 70%, Tajik is the native tongue, with Uzbek the second language and Russian the third. To play this quiz, please finish editing it. Solo Practice. Horses, hunting dogs, birds and periodlike women were also depicted here.[33]. ... AP World History Notes Visual; Add Layer to My Map . In the early 20th century several more Orthodox cathedrals, churches, and temples were built, most of which were demolished while Samarkand was part of the USSR. Buses, mostly SamAuto and Isuzu buses, are the most common and popular mode of transport in the city. High-speed Tashkent–Samarkand high-speed rail line trains run between Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara. The whole known world brought their goods to sell in Samarkand, and they marvelled at the scale and beauty of the city, and of the speed of its construction. [44] Fazlallah ibn Ruzbihan in "Mikhmon-namei Bukhara" expresses his admiration for the majestic building of the madrasah, its gilded roof, high hujras, spacious courtyard and quotes a verse praising the madrasah. Samarkand is located in northeastern Uzbekistan, in the Zarefshan River valley, 135 km from Qarshi. Edit. Afrasiyab (Talgo 250) high-speed train in Samarkand railway station. [24] Discussions and polemics arose between the Sogdian followers of Christianity and Manichaeism, reflected in the documents. [39], The best-known landmark of Samarkand is the mausoleum known as Gur-i Amir. To me, world history is a big, old cycle of patterns, of repeating developments that resurface over and over again to form a complete image. Although the Sogdians constructed such famous towns as Samarkand … Memorial complex Shah-i-Zinda was founded by the rulers of the Karakhanid dynasty in the 11th century. There were also major new construction techniques; oblong bricks were replaced with square ones and superior methods of masonry and plastering were introduced.[13]. an oasis town along the silk roads in central Asia; place where merchants & caravans found food, rest, lodging, and markets; became cosmopolitan center; conquered by the Mongols; During the rule of Timur Lane was the most influential captial city, a wealthy trading center known for decorated mosques and tombs. Certifications. About 95% of signs and inscriptions in the city are in Uzbek, mostly in the Uzbek Latin alphabet). c) The spread of Christianity into Central Asia. [14] During this period, Samarkand was a diverse religious community and was home to a number of religions, including Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Manichaeism, Judaism, and Nestorian Christianity, with most of the population following Zoroastrianism. Primarily used form of currency, due to it being easier to carry around. Abstract: The location of Samarkand, Uzbekistan Type: Vector Data . Samarkand was conquered by Uzbeks in 1500 and became part of the khanate of Bukhara. Clearly, AP® content creators think similarly, creating a whole question type that embodies the identification of relevant historical trends, and the explanation of their “big picture” significance in the broad span of time that makes up our … Russian Orthodoxy was introduced to Samarkand in 1868, and several churches and temples were built. These peoples began to arrive in Samarkand several centuries ago from what are now India and Pakistan. They primarily traded silk, spices, and precious metals. ", Malikov Azim, Sacred lineages of Samarqand: history and identity in Anthropology of the Middle East, Volume 15, Issue 1, Summer 2020, р.36, Dickens, Mark "Nestorian Christianity in Central Asia. It was the capital of the Uzbek SSR from 1925 to 1930 before being replaced by Tashkent. The old city includes historical monuments, shops, and old private houses; the new city includes administrative buildings along with cultural centres and educational institutions. New forms of credit and money . 14 December 2020 . While the official stance is that Uzbek is the most common language in Samarkand, some data indicate that only about 30% of residents speak it as a native tongue. The Lost Empire that Ruled the Silk Road Today, the city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan is relatively remote, known mostly for its magnificent medieval ruins. 3. However, as no population census has been taken in Uzbekistan since 1989, there are no accurate data on this matter. [45] Zayn ad-din Vasifi, who visited the Sheibani-khan madrasah several years later, wrote in his memoirs that the veranda, hall and courtyard of the madrassah are spacious and magnificent. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. 1. Which of the following formed context for Samarkand in the 14th Century that is visible in the tomb pictured above? Advanced Placement World History: Modern is a college-level course and examination offered to high school students through the College Board's Advanced Placement Program designed to help students develop a greater understanding of the evolution of global processes and contacts as well as interactions between different human societies. During one of the talks, the imam of the Shiite mosque in Bukhara said that about 300,000 Shiites live in the Bukhara Vliayat and 1 million in the Samarqand Vilayat. [31] After the state of the Qarakhanids split into 2 parts, Samarkand became a part of the West Karakhanid Kaganate and in 1040-1212 was its capital. According to official reports, a majority of Samarkand's inhabitants are Uzbeks, who are a Turkic people. Though trade never reached what it had been under the Mongols, there was a new encouragement of foreign trade. According to the 1926 census, the number of Uzbeks was recorded as 43,364 and the Tajiks as only 10,716. the development of money . Sogdiana was the meeting point of Asia and Central Asia before 100 b.c.e. Later Timur, whose name meant iron in Turkic, became a bandit and rustler. Overview; In the Beginning (AP) Periodization; Foundations (to 600 BCE) Classical (600 BCE-600 CE) Post-Classical (600 CE to … 2010, pp. Армяне Самарканда. 542. The city then became one of the centers of Nestorianism in Central Asia. Edit. 0. В. А. Нильсен. View AP World History_ Unit 2 Study Guide.docx from GEOG MISC at Kennesaw State University. Homework. [15] Prospering from its location on the Silk Road between China and the Mediterranean Sea, at times Samarkand was one of the largest[2] cities of Central Asia. In 992 they occupied Bukhara, previously the capital of the Iranian Sāmānid dynasty (819–1005), under whose benign rule the cities of Transoxania had become celebrated centres of Islamic culture and learning.… Nemtseva, N.B., Shvab, IU. AP World History Unit 3 DRAFT. Samarkand. Learn how and when to remove this template message, US Ambassador for International Religious Freedom, Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate), Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin, Fatima bint Mohammed ibn Ahmad Al Samarqandi, List of twin towns and sister cities in Uzbekistan, "Uzbekistan: Provinces, Major Cities & Towns – Statistics & Maps on City Population", "Maracanda/Samarkand, une métropole pré-mongole", https://mathshistory.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Ulugh_Beg/, "Why were 101 Uzbeks killed in the Netherlands in 1942? Goal: To understand World History, and to succeed in AP World, you must be able identify and label important locations and physical features throughout the world and to be able to locate them as needed throughout the year. [75][76], There are also a few tens of thousands of Catholics in Samarkand, mostly Poles, Germans, and some Ukrainians. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. 208 с. Католичество в Узбекистане. The Silk Road: Silk is a fabric that is made by weaving a fiber spun by silk worms. The most important and longest of these is Tashkent–Kungrad. There are also a number of inactive Orthodox churches and temples, for example that of Church of St. George Pobedonosets. Practice. Since 2017, there have also been several Samarkandian tram lines, mostly Vario LF.S Czech trams. Over the next 200 years, Samarkand would be ruled by a succession of Turkic tribes, including the Seljuqs and the Khwarazmshahs.[30]. Qarakhanid wall paintings in the citadel of Samarqand: First report and preliminary observations in Muqarnas 22 (2005): 45-84. Klyashtornyy S. G., Savinov D. G., Stepnyye imperii drevney Yevrazii. In 1612-1656, the governor of Samarkand, Yalangtush Bahadur, built a cathedral mosque, Tillya-Kari madrasah and Sherdor madrasah. It was briefly (1924–36) the capital of the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic. Pop. Road M39 connects Samarkand to Mazar-i-Sharif in Afghanistan, which is 340 km away. There is no direct evidence of when it was founded. Edit. According to WikiLeaks, in 2007–2008, the US Ambassador for International Religious Freedom held a series of meetings with Sunni mullahs and Shiite imams in Uzbekistan. Gold also has a strong presence in the city. Samarkand became the capital of Great Empire of Tamerlane, ranged from Ind River to Bosfor. River Valley Civilizations: Egypt (Nile), Mesopotamia/Sumer (Euphrates/Tigris), Shang China (Yellow/HuangHe), Harappa/Mohenjo-Daro (Indus) The first Mesoamerican civilization.