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Bukhara - History |
In
Sanskrit word, Bukhara signifies "monastery" and this city was once a
large commercial centre on the Great Silk Road. Bukhara was already considered
an important cultural and trade centre, which in fact determined the drama of
the city's historical fate.
Bukhara with more than 140 architectural monuments is a "town museum"
dating back to the Middle Ages. 2,300 years later, ensembles like the Poi-Kalon,
Kos Madras, Ismail Samani Mausoleum and the Kalian Minaret are attracting a lot
of attention.
The history of Bukhara is more astonishing than the rest of the cities in
Uzbekistan. At the old times the city was a part of a large region of the
Central Asia - Soghda, conquered by Alexander the Great. There were ancient
trade routes through Bukhara connecting China, India, and Iran. The building of
the city was held on a certain system, symbolizing the structure of the
Universe. So right - angled Shahristan (the main part of the city) was divided
into 4 parts by 2 crossing streets. They led to the gates faced the 4 parts of
the world. In 9-10th century Bukhara became the capital of the
Samanids State. At that period there were built up palaces, residencies, mosques
and other religious buildings.
The 10th century sees Bukhara more of a scientific and cultural
center. During the end of the 10th century Bukhara was under the Karahanids
reign. Monuments like the Magoki-Attani, Namaz-Doh Mosque and Chashma-Ajub were
witnesses to this particular period.
From 1318-1389, Bukhara had a great religious leader - Sheikh Bahautdin
Nakshbandi. His kind of faith, Nakshbandism became one of the kinds of suphism.
Suphism at that time was spread round the Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey, India, the
Eastern Turkestan and Caucasus area.
In the 15th century, Bukhara was part of the Sheibanids State. It was becoming
more important and many Moslem monuments like the madrasahs, hanakis and mosques
were created at that time and played significant role in spreading the Moslem
religion. The madrasah Miri-Arab (1536) was built in this era. The
Sitorai-Machi-Khosa palace was the country residence of the last emir.
