Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva

Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva : three great Central Asian cities which arouse our wonder by the originality and sheer power of their mythic silhouettes. Here Pierre Chuvin delves into the vibrant artistic and architectural heritage of this once forbidden land, with photographs by Gérard Degeorge demonstrating a rich and varied past, and reinstating the region's Islamic art within the chaos of world history. The insightful historical voyage begins over two thousand years ago when Alexander the Great approached the city walls of Samarkand and was stunned by its invincible size and beauty. It recounts how merchants on the Silk Road and warring armies, headed by the likes of Gengis Kahn and Tamerlane, continued to cross paths for centuries in this region. Unceasing rivalries spurred these different parties to create ever more spectacular buildings, gardens, and mosques. This book attempts to make these silent places, with their dazzling livery of turquoise ceramic, echo once more with the sounds of the men that created and peopled them, and bears witness to the cultural legacy of a vibrant civilization.