Amir Timur's son Mirzo Ulugbek, who ruled Movarounnahr in the first half of the 15th century, built three madrasas. The first was built in Bukhara in 1417. At that time, Bukhara was well known as the capital of Islamic theology. Medresses have been centers of science and education in the Orient and at all times. It was no wonder that on the instructions of Ulugbek, a well-trained ruler who was often called “the scientist on the throne”, the following aphorism was carved on the ornate front door: “I am looking for knowledge that
every Muslim man and woman is a duty ”. Another inscription on a nearby door knocker, on a bronze plate, reads: “Let the door of God's blessing into the circle of persons who will be opened through the wisdom of the books”. Near the Toki Zargaron trade dome in the former city of Mazar Gate, the Ulugbek madrasah was set up very modestly compared to other sights of the Timurid period. However, the geometric patterns of the decorative masonry, ornamental mosaics and majolica as well as Kufi inscriptions in Arabic script are applied in the decoration of the outer and inner facades, showing the extraordinary skills of the local architects. The names of the designers - Najmet-din Bukhari and Ismaeel Bini-Takhir Bini-Mahmud Isfaghani - were written on the wall of the madrasah. Historians believe that Ismaeel Isfaghani was the builder of the grandson of Mahmud Isfaghani who built the madrasah and Chanaka (dervish monastery), premises of the Guri-Amir mausoleum in Samarkand. The architects created an Islamic educational institution with an undoubtedly perfect architectural style. For many centuries the layout of the Ulugbek madrasah became a kind of canon for the structures of this type, which combined facilities and accommodation for students, while at the same time, the building was built under the regional conditions. The facade of the madrasah has loggia niches and corner towers. The corners led to the courtyard and in the corners to the rooms, in the dome mosque was the "Darskhona" classroom in winter. Two rows of Hujra students lived in cells in the courtyard. Wide, shady Ayvan platforms were built under the high portals in the courtyard, where lessons were held on hot summer days. The second floor of the building was equipped with a library. In addition to the Koran and Hadith, disciplines such as logic, mathematics and geometry were taught in the Ulugbek Madrasah. The students had daily classes from morning to night. Usually the classes were conducted in the form of a lawsuit; the students had the right to freely choose any mudarris (teacher) they wanted. The period of apprenticeship for the studies in this medieval “House of Science” averaged 15-20 years. Each student received a grant for small groceries and clothing. Among the alumni of the Ulugbek Madrasah were many outstanding scholars, theologians, poets and philosophers.
