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Ulugbek (Timur the Great's grandson) ruled the country for 40 years. During his rule, Samarkand became one of the world's scientific centers.

In Samarkand, Ulugbek opened a school that united outstanding astronomers and mathematicians. Ulugbek was the founder of the city's observatory (1428-1429). There was a gigantic marble sextant with a radius of 40,212 meters and an arc length of 63 meters. The instrument was extremely precise. It was used to determine the coordinates of the Sun, Moon, and other planets. Ulugbek created the astronomic catalogue, "Stars Tables".

Samarkand is also well-known for its great scientists, writers and painters like Rudaki, Babur, Jami, Avicenna, Navoi, Mukimi, Furkat.

A majestic and beautiful city, Samarkand has marvelous and attractive power. Poets and historians of the past have called it the "Rome of the East" and the "pearl" of the Eastern Moslem World.