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Professors from Princeton University and the University of Texas in the United States visited the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan and explored its exhibitions in detail. During the visit, the guests toured all the galleries and highly praised the way the centuries-old history of civilization that developed in the territory of present-day Uzbekistan is presented through a unified scholarly concept.

The exhibitions dedicated to the Second Renaissance, as well as the unique artifacts reflecting the scientific and cultural flourishing of the Timurid era, attracted particular interest from the scholars. As the guests noted, the Center not only showcases historical heritage but also provides an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of it and conduct scholarly analysis through modern museological approaches.

Said Reza Huseini Balkhi, a researcher at Princeton University, shared his impressions of the Center, emphasizing that within a relatively short period it has developed into a major center of scholarship, education, and spiritual enlightenment.

“I saw this place eight years ago, when construction work was still underway. Today, seeing it fully completed, I was truly amazed. Anyone who enters this place has the opportunity to understand not only individual historical periods, but the history of the entire region as a coherent whole. Most importantly, the history of pre-Islamic civilizations and the heritage of the Islamic era have been harmoniously integrated within a unified scholarly concept. This is an initiative of immense and unparalleled significance. On this occasion, I sincerely congratulate the President of Uzbekistan, the Government of the country, and the people of Uzbekistan on having such a unique center of heritage.”

Daniel Sheffield, Associate Professor of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University and Director of the Sharmin and Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Iran and Persian Gulf Studies at the university, placed particular emphasis on the scholarly value and richness of the exhibitions.

“This museum is even richer and more substantial than I expected. Even as a scholar who has worked in this field for many years, I encountered exhibits that I had never seen before. The history of Central Asia is presented here in a remarkably comprehensive way, interconnected with the history of other regions of the Islamic world as well as with the broader history of world civilization. Since my research mainly focuses on the pre-Islamic period, the first gallery made a particularly strong impression on me. Seeing with my own eyes artifacts that I had long known through academic literature was an unforgettable experience.”

Today, the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan is increasingly becoming a major platform for spiritual and educational engagement as well as academic dialogue, earning recognition from scholars representing leading universities and research institutions around the world. The high praise expressed by specialists visiting from various countries demonstrates the Center’s growing role in preserving national heritage and presenting it to the international academic community through modern museological and scholarly approaches.