What is the historical significance of these two cities? I have always heard of them in historical stories that they were known for rich muslim culture at one point, just like Baghdad. Was it because of famous Muslim scholars or scientists and who? Why were they so famous.
Re: Samarkand and Bukhara
Samarkand and Bukhara were two Muslim cities on the Silk Road, captured from the Persian Empire and converted to Islam. The trade that went through them made them some of the richest and most populous Muslim cities in the world.
The money made them a centre of culture as scholars flowed to where they could be sponsored.
Al-Bukhari, the compiler of hadith, was born in Bokhara.
Re: Samarkand and Bukhara
Not only Sheikh Bukhari, but that region of the muslim empire produced more scholars than any other region. Read: Baburnama. Amazing book.
Re: Samarkand and Bukhara
Ok off topic, but Mad Scientist I’m quite impressed with your knowledge of history, specially islamic history…n I’ve seen you writing quite confidently abt. it…can you recommend me some books???
Thanks!
Re: Samarkand and Bukhara
Umm.. the only books that I read on Islamic history have tended to be on the Mughal and Ottoman empires.
The bulk of what I read tends to come from online sources. Wikipedia is quite good because it’s full of links within articles, so that if one aspect of a story interests you, you can focus in on it.
Start here and see where it takes you…
Re: Samarkand and Bukhara
^
Thank you!
Re: Samarkand and Bukhara
ya I would be very interested in learning which scholars came from that region and what they were famous for. I have seen the architechtual pictures of Samarkand and Bukhara and they were so beautiful.
Re: Samarkand and Bukhara
^^
Religious scholars, scientific scholars, or cultural scholars?
Re: Samarkand and Bukhara
all of them. I heard ib-e-sina studied there as well? And there was one..I don't remember the name of the astronomer.
Re: Samarkand and Bukhara
Yup - Ibn Sina was born near Bukhara and educated there. He lived there until he was 22, when Mahmood of Ghazni attacked and occupied Bukhara.
The astronomer was Ulugh Beg. He was a ruler/astronomer in Samarkand (more famous for astronomy, since he wasn’t that good a ruler). There’s a crater on the moon naed after him.
Re: Samarkand and Bukhara
Interesting thing is that Samarqand and Bukhara have historically been Tajik Persian cities. Still there are more Persian-speaking Tajiks in Bukhara than Turkish speaking Uzbeks.
From wikipedia:
Bukhara has been one of the main centres of Iranian civilization during its history. Its architecture and archaeological sites form one of the pillars of the Persian history and art. The region of Bukhara was for a long period a part of the Persian Empire.
Another interesting historical fact is that even though Babar, the founder of Mughal Empire, did come from what is now called "Uzbekistan"; but the present-day Uzbeks did not live in that area during Babar's time. I read somewhere that Babar actually disliked Uzbeks. Even in Urdu, the term "Ujbak" probably is a distorted form of "Uzbek" (people in South Asia sometimes replace 'z' with 'j'), and the word 'Ujbak' is synonymous with an uncivilized/barbarian person.
(No disrespect towards present-day Uzbeks intended.)
Re: Samarkand and Bukhara
Was not Ulagh Baig, uncle of Babur, ruler of Kabul in 15th Century? Or are you talking about some other Ulagh Baig?
Re: Samarkand and Bukhara
Kabhee ai Naujawan Muslim tadabur bhee kia tu nai
woh Kia gurdun tha kai tu jis ka hai ik toota howa tara.
Iqbal.
Re: Samarkand and Bukhara
[quote]
I read somewhere that Babar actually disliked Uzbeks. Even in Urdu, the term "Ujbak" probably is a distorted form of "Uzbek" (people in South Asia sometimes replace 'z' with 'j'), and the word 'Ujbak' is synonymous with an uncivilized/barbarian person.
[/quote]
The term Uzbek is derived from the Turkic word Oz Beg (the same name "Baig" is used in Pakistan). Oz means genuine and beg means man. So, the word means "genuine man."
Uzbeks are mostly descendents of Mongols that were "Turkicized". In fact, one of the famous ruler of the Mongol "Golden Horde" was named Oz Beg who converted to Islam (and his people) and its very likely Uzbeks are their descendents.
Uzbeks invaded the region of present-day Uzbekistan in the early 1500s AD.
Re: Samarkand and Bukhara
Alot of syeds from iran and arabia lived in bukhara. During the mughal times, and even as far back as the delhi sultanates, alot of syeds from buhkara moved to 'india and served in the administration'. Thats why there is alot of bukhari syeds.
Re: Samarkand and Bukhara
I am currently reading it. Amazing autobiography!
Re: Samarkand and Bukhara
Did you get it from Amazon? Send me the link please.. I want the book too. What does he say in the book about Pakistan?
Re: Samarkand and Bukhara
A lot of “Syeds” (meaning descendents of Arabs/Muhammad pbuh) in South Asia are either fake Syeds (probably adopted that title when converted to Islam), or their Arab/prophet lineage is so much diluted (because of inter-racial marriages through the centuries) that their Syedness is negligible.
Re: Samarkand and Bukhara
Well first thing, Pakistan was not created until 4 centuries after Babur first settled into India, so naturally there is no special mention of the the area which is considered modern day Pakistan. However, Babur does talk about in his memoirs of endeavors through Kandahar, Kabul, Lahore, Multan, Sindh and so on and so forth.
Re: Samarkand and Bukhara
:topic: have u seen