Green Mosque

The Masjid Sabz or Green Mosque is a mosque in the city of Balkh, in northern Afghanistan. It is believed to be have been commissioned by the then ruler of the Eastern Timurid Empire, Shah Rukh, or by his wife Goharshad. After Tamerlane's death in 1405, his empire fell apart with various tribes and warlords competing for dominance. The Black Sheep Turkmen destroyed the western empire in 1410 when they captured Baghdad, but in Persia and Transoxiana Shāhrukh was able to secure effective control from about 1409. His empire controlled the main trade routes between East and West, including the legendary Silk Road, and became immensely wealthy as a result. His wife, Gowhar Shād, funded the construction of many outstanding mosques and schools...