← Explore on the interactive map

Samarkand as Capital

Type Object Region Central Asia Time 1370–1507

Samarkand was the political and cultural center of the Timurid Empire, serving as its symbolic capital under Timur and Shah Rukh in 1401-1410, with g…

Timeline

  1. 1370–1400Samarkand · UzbekistanTimur made Samarkand the imperial capital, relocated artisans and scholars, and built the complex around the Registan square, laying the foundation for the massive projects of the following decades.
  2. 1401–1404Samarkand · UzbekistanAfter returning to Samarkand from the Battle of Ankara, Timur pushed for the completion of oversized buildings such as the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, mobilizing artisans and materials from across the empire, bringing the capital's scale and prestige to their peak.
  3. 1405–1410Samarkand · UzbekistanAfter Timur's death in 1405, Shah Rukh made Herat the actual political center, but Samarkand retained its status as the empire's symbolic capital, continuing as a core node of scholarly and architectural heritage.

Sources