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