Mirzo Ulugbek (1409-1449), grandson of Amir Timur, came to power in Samarkand in the middle of the 15th century. It was Ulugbek who actively built educational institutions in Bukhara, Samarkand, Shahrisabz and Gijduvan. Ulugbek madrasa in Samarkand is a classic example of Islamic higher educational institutions of the East.

    The madrasa was built in 1417-1420. Artistically, it was not inferior to the buildings built by Timur, and at the same time, it was far superior to them in terms of strength.

    Initially, the madrasah consisted of 50 rooms, where more than a hundred students studied a year. According to historians, Ulugbek himself taught at the madrasa. Famous Persian poet Jami lived and created here. Jami's listeners included Sheikh Khoja Ahrar Vali, one of the most famous representatives of the Naqshbandi sect, and the great poet Alisher Navoi.

    The building had 2 floors, four high domes above the corner classrooms, and four minarets in the corners. The huge gable, which occupies two-thirds of the main facade, faces the square with a huge and deep spear-shaped arch.

    In the 18th century, due to internal conflicts, the madrasah was severely damaged. The rooms on the second floor and the outer domes were destroyed.

     At the beginning of the 20th century, the architects and artists of that time carried out the main part of the renovation of the madrasa. In 1918, M. F. Mauer developed a project for renovating the main tower and underground parts of the madrasa. For half a century, one hundred parts of the building, the outer walls of the northern side, were reinforced with bricks. The porches of the courtyard were strengthened, majolica, mosaics and carvings were restored.

    At the end of the last century, in connection with Ulugbek's jubilee, the repair and restoration works of the madrasa began. The project involved restoration of the 2nd floor of the madrasa, restoration of the southwest walls using architectural ceramics and modern building materials.

    Today, the Ulugbek madrasa is one of the three unique jewels of Registan and is an invaluable decoration of the historical center of Samarkand.

    Ulugbek madrasa is included in UNESCO's list of World Culture.

 

         Samarkand State University

         Department of Samarkand Civilization History.