Along the Silk Road in Central Asia

 The Citadel in Bukara and the mausoleum of Tamerlane in Samarkand are pictured here in Uzbekistan.


The sights at Samarkand are impressive and it was the capital of the empire of Tamerlane, who ruled over a region which today includes 22 countries. The Gūr-e- Amīr where he is buried is spectacular, as is the Bibi-Khanym Mosque,, one of the largest in Asia and dedicated to his wife.

The area was one of the major theatres for the "Great Game", in which Britain and Russia sort to gain influence over the region. Below is the city wall of Kiva, which became the local capital after the changes to the Oxus river.

Many won't have heard of Kunya Urgench in Turkmenistan, but it is a UNESCO heritage site. It was the centre of an empire and a major trading stop, until being devastated by armies from the east. Below is the mausoleum of Turabek Kjanum the wife of a rule Kutleg 1321

There is a lot of material in potential talks. Therefore I have split this into a talk with a travel emphasis and one focussing on the history. This looks at the political conflict between empires, in particular the Great Game, during the 19th century. However this erupted again during the communist era, with Russia seeking to gain access to India.