## Timurid Period The [[Timurid Period]], spanning from 1370 to 1507, was one of the greatest empires of the Middle Ages. Founded by Timur with the conquest of Samarkand in 1370, the empire stretched from the Caucasus to [[Oman]] at its zenith. Despite its vastness and cultural richness, the empire was short-lived due to internal strife; Timur distributed land among his sons and grandsons but failed to prevent infighting among them, leading to the empire's decline and eventual collapse in 1507. During its existence, the [[Timurid Period|Timurid Empire]] made significant cultural contributions, particularly in cities like Herat, Shiraz, Isfahan, and Samarkand, which became centers for culture and the arts. The focus on architecture and book arts during this period is particularly noteworthy.^[*Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, Istanbul*] ![[Timurid jug.jpg|700]] *[[Timurid Period|Timurid]] jug, 15th century. Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum, Istanbul.*