The 74th edition of Brownbook celebrates Samarkand, one of Central Asia’s most storied cities. We trace its past through the legacy of Bibi Khanum and Ibn Sina, and explore the city’s cultural and architectural icons, from the Samarkand Regional Theatre and Afrasiab Museum to Samarkand State University, a centre of learning and tradition. We also highlight the city’s age-old craft of silk paper making and journey towards the modernist architecture of Tashkent, capturing how heritage and progress coexist across Uzbekistan’s historic landscape.