Behind every Begim fragrance -a place, a name or a legendof Central Asia.
1336-1405
A commander and ruler who made Samarkand the capital of an empire stretching from the Mediterranean to India. Under him the city became a centre of crafts, science and architecture. The ruby was considered the stone of the rulers of Transoxiana - a sign of power and protection.
15th century
Temur's grandson, the ruler and astronomer Mirzo Ulugbek, built an observatory in Samarkand and compiled a catalogue of 1018 stars. His tables were used by astronomers of the East and Europe for centuries.
Transoxiana
Mawarannahr - the lands between the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya. For centuries its oases and gardens among steppes and deserts fed the cities the caravans passed through.
1441-1501
Alisher Navoi - poet and thinker, the founder of Uzbek literature. His ghazals about love were read from Herat to Istanbul, and love in them is the force that moves worlds.
Mountain of light
One of the most famous diamonds in the world. Its name means "mountain of light", and its path ran through the treasuries of the great dynasties of the East, including Temur's descendants - the Baburids.
2nd c. BC - 15th c.
A network of caravan routes from China to the Mediterranean. It carried not only silk and gold but also scents: spices, resins, rose water and musk. Samarkand and Bukhara were its heart.
Registan
One of the oldest cities in the world. Registan Square with its three madrasas and turquoise domes is the symbol of the city and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
City of craftsmen
A city of madrasas, trading domes and artisans. The historic centre of Bukhara has kept the look of a medieval Silk Road city and is on the UNESCO list.
