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beneficial . It was an interesting position and is believed to have been the turning point in the Mongols way of looking at their conquering empire and led to the Turco-Mongol Emperor , Timur , setting base in the city and forming the Timurid Renaissance . Samarkand formed the capital of the empire and place for Timur ’ s mausoleum .
The mausoleum is just one of the seven-hundred-year-old constructions still standing , it ’ s an impressive site amongst many equally impressive constructions , yet nothing can prepare the traveller for the Registan Square .
The heart of the Timurid Renaissance , the Registan was the centre of everything important . A large courtyard flanked by three madrasahs , or Islamic schools , was the scene of proclamations by the emperor , public announcements of importance , as well as executions of dissenters .
The madrasahs are as impressive as any other construction from
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