Samarkand is one of the most ancient towns of the world. In 1970 Samarkand marked its 2500th anniversary. Its eventful history is closely bound up with the names of outstanding scholars, writers, artists and master-jewellers of the ancient East. One of the earliest mentions of Samarkand is found in the accounts of Alexander the Great's campaigns, that is, the 4th century B.C. The rule of Tamerlane occupies a special place in the history of Samarkand. He created a huge state and proclaimed Samarkand the capital of his empire. Under Tamerlane the town entered a period of economic and cultural upsurge. the finest mastercraftsmen who ghathered in Samarkand built palaces, mosques and madrahs. After Tamerlane's death Samarkand was ruled by his grandson Ulugbek, an outstanding scholar and progressive statesman. Samarkand was decorated by new architectural ensembles. Among the remarkable artistic monuments are the Shakh-in-Zindeh ensemble, the tomb of Gur-Emir, the ruins of Bibi-Khanum, the gongregetional mosque, the architectural ensemble of Registan Square, the observatory of Ulugbek and some others. Approaccing the town one cannot miss the magnificent greenish-blue cupala of the Gur-Emir (grave of the Emir) mausoleum built at the beginning of the 15th century by the order of Tamerlane as a tomb of his grandson Muhammed Sultan. Two other monuments of Registan, the Shir-Dor and Tillya-Kari madrassahs were built in rhe first half of the 17th century. Today Samarkand is a well-planned town and the second largest industrial and cultural centre of Uzbekistan. It has chemical and engineering factiries, power-engeneering and enterprises agricultural raw materials.