Uzbekistan

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This world is vast, there are many countries, but our Uzbekistan is unique. This wonderful and sacred land was created for us. This thought should inspire all our hearts and provide the reason for our lives.

Islam Karimov, as quoted in the state museum of the history of uzbekistan

There is indeed something unique about the country that offered us the Silk Road jewels of Samarkand and Bukhara, about the land between the Syr Daria (Iaxartes) and Amur Daria (Oxos) rivers.

But Uzbekistan is equally universal, in that it reminds us that most of human achievements in art and beauty are born in times of the sword and brutal conquests. Namely Timur’s (Tamerlan) conquest.