Samarkand was one of the major stops on Silk Road. In the 14th century it became the capital of the Timurid empire (founded by Tamerlane/Timur), and one of the most important and beautiful cities in Central Asia. Samarkand is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: "The historic town of Samarkand is a crossroad and melting pot of the world's cultures. Founded in the 7th century B.C. as ancient Afrasiab, Samarkand had its most significant development in the Timurid period from the 14th to the