Under the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the enrichment process of the expositions at the Center of Islamic Civilization being established in Uzbekistan continues. It also envisages the establishment of a special corner dedicated to the rich scientific and spiritual heritage of Mirzo Ulugbek's palace library. The library is being thoroughly researched, and all sources about it are being collected. The scientific heritage and manuscripts of Mirzo Ulugbek are being collected, and facsimile copies of them will find their place among the exposition funds.
Palace libraries in the East were not only centers of science, culture, and education but also residences of rulers. Mirzo Ulugbek's palace library was one of the most prestigious scientific centers in the medieval Orient. This library, established by Ulugbek’s personal initiative, significantly contributed to the advancement of science and culture during the Timurid era.
The library fund was filled with rare and unique books. It housed unique manuscripts on astronomy, mathematics, philosophy, medicine, history, and other sciences. Famous works of Eastern and Western scientists were preserved there.
This library held a significant place in the development of science and education in Central Asia. It was not just a place where books were collected; it also served as a unique research center for astronomers, mathematicians, and other scientific workers. Ulugbek himself was engaged in scholarship there, gathering contemporary scientists around him. The weakening of Timurid rule also affected Mirzo Ulugbek’s library. Most of its rare books were lost.
After Ulugbek's death, his famous library in Samarkand, consisting of 15,000 books, became endangered. It was preserved by Ali Qushji, who was named “the Ptolemy of his era.” Much of the library’s collection was moved by Ali Qushji to the village of Hazrat Bashir near Samarkand. Soon after, he also had to leave Samarkand due to persecutions. Today, there are no concrete evidences about its original location and remains. It is speculated to have been located in the area of Ulugbek's madrasa in Samarkand.
