Uzbekistan is made up of a medeival collection of nomadic villages and towns in Central Asia conquered by Timur (or Tamerlane) during the 14/15 centuries.... Even prior to that, cities of Bukhara and Samarkand were highly regarded trading posts under the Silk Road - the then equivalents of New York, London and Paris.... Timur left behind an incredible legacy, including the founding generation of the Moghul empire of India, Islamic art and architecture...