In 1370, Timur the Lame, or Tamerlane, a well-known commander and ruler, decided to make Samarkand the capital of his empire, which extended from India to Turkey. He built a new city and populated it with artisans and craftsmen from all of the places he had conquered. In present days, Samarkand remains the second city after Tashkent for business, culture and education in Uzbekistan. However, the city of Samarkand is unrivalled in the richness and diversity of its architectural and historical heritage in the whole of Central Asia.