In this episode of Silk Road Adventures, we uncover Samarkand’s enduring legacy—where Silk Road traders once gathered, artisans still craft silk paper, and ancient murals reveal lost civilizations.
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00:00The Samarkand was the heart of the Great Silk Road, and this city connected the East and the West.
00:14Our Samarkand paper will last 2000 years. I guarantee it.
00:24Samarkand used to be a crucial Silk Road hub. I am here to find out about the times when caravans would bring merchants from the East and West.
00:40Here our Silk Road adventure starts at one of the most beautiful places of Uzbekistan.
00:48This is Registan Square, and this place has many Silk Road stories to tell.
01:18The Afrasyab hills in Samarkand are the place where Samarkand's history began.
01:30Now they are the largest archaeological site in Central Asia, a treasure trove for those exploring the Silk Road era.
01:38This is the palace of the ruler of Varkhman, which dates back to the 7th and 8th centuries.
01:46A large hall was discovered in this palace, the walls of which were covered with unique paintings.
01:56It was a sensational discovery, highlighting the interconnected world of the Sogdians and their significant role in cultural exchange along the Silk Roads.
02:06Marina Reutova was one of those who restored the mural often dubbed the Uzbek Mona Lisa.
02:12The murals have been displayed in some of the largest world museums, including the Louvre.
02:20My next stop is the museum of the Sogdians.
02:28The Sogdians were the first people to discover the Silk Road.
02:36The Sogdians were the first people to discover the Silk Road.
02:44My next destination is the Conigal tourist village located near Samarkand, where craftsmen worked during the times of caravans.
02:52I'm here to learn some secrets from the past.
02:58This paper is made from the pulp of Central Asian mulberry trees, just as it was hundreds of years ago.
03:06The recipe, lost in the 17th century, was restored by Zarif Mukhtarov and his brother.
03:14The ancient technology is actually very complex.
03:18These are the movements, right?
03:20Yes.
03:21Am I doing it right?
03:22Yes, you are.
03:23Take it to work.
03:24I've already taken it.
03:27Samarkand silk paper is now used in different countries to restore ancient manuscripts.
03:34It came through the Silk Road and will spread through the Silk Road to other countries.
03:40Samarkand paper was very famous for its smoothness, shine and color.
03:46In addition, it is durable.
03:48All the manuscripts we study today are well preserved.
03:53Our history is preserved thanks to Samarkand paper.
04:03At the end of my journey, I'm going to learn another ancient recipe of the famous Samarkand flatbreads.
04:10We make bread with these flatbreads.
04:19The Samarkand bread is traditionally baked in tandoor.
04:26The walls of the tandoor are scorching hot.
04:29Honestly, it's a bit scary.
04:41These fragrant Samarkand flatbreads are a symbol of the hospitality of the local people praised by travelers throughout the ages.
04:49My flatbread turned out well.
04:52A perfect ending to our Silk Road adventure in Uzbekistan.