Middle Ages
Timurid Empire
1370 AD – 1450 AD · peak 1405 AD
The Timurid Empire was a Turco-Mongol state founded by Timur (Tamerlane) in 1370, with its capital at Samarkand in modern-day Uzbekistan. The dynasty oversaw the Timurid Renaissance, marked by significant advancements in Persianate architecture, miniature painting, and astronomy under rulers like Ulugh Beg. The empire fractured after 1405 due to succession struggles and was eventually eclipsed by the Safavids and the Uzbek Shaybanids in the early 16th century.
Capital: Samarcanda
Key figures
Battles in this period
Trade routes in use
- Silk Road (130 BC – 1450 AD)
- Trans-Saharan Gold Route (700 AD – 1500 AD)
- Hanseatic League (1200 AD – 1600 AD)
- Indian Ocean Spice Route (800 AD – 1500 AD)