When was Ulugh Beg born and where did he spend his childhood?
Ulugh Beg was born on the 22nd of March 1394 in Sultaniyeh. He spent his childhood wandering through the Middle East and India while his family expanded their empire.
Questions about Ulugh Beg
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What astronomical instruments did Ulugh Beg build in Samarkand?
Ulugh Beg constructed the Fakhri sextant with a radius of about 50 meters to measure the transit altitudes of stars. He also used a 50-meter high gnomon to determine the length of the sidereal year.
How accurate were the star catalogues compiled by Ulugh Beg?
Ulugh Beg composed a star catalogue of 1018 stars that was more accurate than the work of Ptolemy. His 1437 Zij-i-Sultani of 994 stars is generally considered the greatest star catalogue between those of Ptolemy and Tycho Brahe.
What diplomatic relations did Ulugh Beg maintain with the Ming dynasty?
Ulugh Beg fostered diplomatic relations with the Yongle emperor of the Ming dynasty starting in 1416. Envoys exchanged gifts including silk, silver, and a black horse with white feet between Samarqand and Beijing.
How did Ulugh Beg die and when did his assassination occur?
Ulugh Beg was assassinated in 1449 by his son Abdal-Latif Mirza after a civil war. His remains were later found by Soviet archaeologists in 1941 and placed at Timur's feet in the Gur-e-Amir in Samarkand.