Amir Timur, also known as Tamerlane, was a military and political leader in the 14th century. He was born in 1336 in the family of a Turkic nomad in modern-day Uzbekistan. In 1370, he began his career as a conqueror, uniting several Turkic tribes and establishing an empire that encompassed the territories from India to Central Asia and Iran. Tamerlane was known for his cruelty and ruthlessness in conducting wars, but he was also famous for his cultural achievements. He was a patron of the arts and sciences, especially architecture and poetry, and made Samarkand the center of his cultural life.