Master Art

Rugs from East Turkestan (now part of Chinese province of Sinkiang) were mostly to be found on the market place of Samarkand. The first travellers who bought these goods erroneously thought that they were produced in Samarkand. In fact they came from Khotan, Kashgar, Yorkand, situated approximately 100km more eastwards. Till today the term Samarkand is still in use, although it is not very appropriate.
Since the Timurids, Samarkand, ancient khanate of East Turkestan was one of the wealthiest and most influential cities of Asia.

ref. 11328