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The Orient even in difficult times,
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the yearning for the beauty
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and the mystery of the East is undiminished.
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But many places in Iran and Uzbekistan
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draw few visitors.
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Travelers are deterred by supposed dangers.
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(mournful Eastern music)
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But for that reason, a journey from Isfahan to Samarkand
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through hidden deserts and mountains
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remains one of the great dream routes
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for friends of the Orient.
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It is a legendary journey.
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(music rising)
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(marionettes chattering)
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(truck thundering)
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(haunting music sustaining)
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(truck rolling)
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The road to the most famous cities of the Orient
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from Isfahan to Mashhad
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and onto Bukhara and Samarkand
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is more than 2,200 kilometers long.
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Our journey begins in Isfahan,
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the home of many ruling dynasties.
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Safavids, Sassanids, Seljuqs, Mongols and Arabs
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have all left their traces in Iran
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where minarets and the domes of mosques
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and madrassas abound.
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(haunting music)
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The colors, ornamentation and calligraphy
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on the huge Imam Square, once known as the King's Square
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immerse the visitor in a strange but enchanting world.
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Isfahan is a magnet for pilgrims from all over the country.
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Foreigners too are drawn here
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to the Islamic Republic of Iran,
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some harbor fears, which a young graduate
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from the religious school, a Moola
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by the name of Muhammad impressively dispels.
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In Arabic language, he says (speaks in foreign language)
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it means travel in the earth and look at what
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happened in the history for someone
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who reject and deny truth.
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And I think it's a really great point
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when you travel and in everywhere
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in all over the world,
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just look at the history.
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What happened to them?
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What happened to the people in the past,
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some Kings, some ordinary people
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who followed the truth,
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who reject that?
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And it's a great verse about death.
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I can tell you, you have heard
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lots of things about Islam,
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lots of things about Iran.
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Iran is very dangerous.
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Lots of explosion,
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Muslim people are terrorists.
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They always carry some knife.
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And I can tell you,
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look at me, I'm an Iranian. (guffaws)
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And even I studied in seminary school and here is Iran.
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Here is in the middle of the Iran in Isfahan.
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And I will tell you something,
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you cannot reject that,
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Iran is the safest place in the Middle East.
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Yeah.
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And the only way to prove it
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is come Iran and look at how is Iran.
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(Uplifting Middle-Eastern music)
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The river that should
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normally flow through Isfahan
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and link its historic bridges is called Zayandeh Rood,
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the River of Life.
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But because of drought, the water is pumped off
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to other parts of the country,
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an indication of the growing
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ecological problems Iran is facing.
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But even without water Isfahan's bridges
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from the Safavid Era era are still among
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the great attractions of Persian architecture,
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reminders of the heyday of Oriental art and culture
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along the Silk Road.
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(church bells tolling)
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And in Isfahan church bells still ring out
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in the Armenian quarter, even today.
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In addition to a Jewish community,
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Isfahan offered craftsman and artists
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from Christian countries a home.
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Oriental tolerance.
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(people chattering)
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Located in the Bazaar is the studio of Mr. Okhovat,
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a master of the ancient Persian art of miniature painting.
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(uplifting string music)
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He draws his motifs from the love poetry
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written by Hafiz and Saadi.
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Mr. Okhovat never abandoned his art even in difficult times.
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Even when virtually everyone stopped traveling to Iran,
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he remained true to his art
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because he says it is deeply
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rooted in the soul of Persia.
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(speaking in foreign language)
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Iranians enjoy life and love poems
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about flowers and nightingales
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Their favorite poets are Hafiz and Saadi,
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who's verse is extremely sensitive and full of emotion.
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These sensitivities are the reason
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why people like these miniatures, enjoy poetry
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and sing the poems of Hafiz and Saadi.
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(speaking in foreign language)
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Just as this art was able to survive difficult times
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over a thousand years, it will continue
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to survive in the future because people need this art
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and the joy it gives them.
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(people buzzing)
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Nearby is another store which
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is linked to Iran's ancient image.
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Here, Mr. Hossim sells Persian carpets,
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along with Aladdin's magic lamp.
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Carpets are the classic symbols of the Orient.
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(speaking in foreign language)
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For Mr. Hasseem, carpets are far more than a commodity.
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They're his life.
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The most interesting thing
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about these sort of pieces is that
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these are nomadic pieces and they think and make.
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All the design comes from their imagination.
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If I show you all my carpet
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you can never find two exactly the same
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because they think and make.
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And then we have classical carpets
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like these style, this is a classical carpet.
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(carpet thuds)
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And to make something like this,
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there is pattern design, the look and they make.
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You don't see any inconsistencies.
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But if you go to these are full,
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and that's the beauty of the carpet,
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that they make it with love
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and they made it with heart.
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I'm very proud of telling this
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that I'm an Iranian carpet dealer
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because it's the third biggest business
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after petrol and gas.
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A carpet like this, it takes at least a year to make.
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Unfortunately it's getting less and less
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because people they prefer to work in factories
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than earn some money and not to spend a couple of months.
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(percussive Eastern music)
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Our journey through Iran begins.
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It takes us into the desert from Isfahan to Yazd.
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Day and night, heavy trucks thunder
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over the well-constructed roads,
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taking goods from the Arabian Sea
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to all corners of the country.
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(trucks thundering)
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(music sustaining)
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The hallmark of Yazd are its towers of silence
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which date back to the days of the Zoroastrian Fire Cult.
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In ancient Iran, the bodies of deceased
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followers of Zarathustra were laid out
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for wild birds to feed on.
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The remains were then swept into a pit
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at the center of each tower.
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(people chattering)
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Zoroastrian Fire Temples can still
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be seen all over the country.
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The one in Yazd is particularly beautiful.
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The teachings of Zarathustra were the widespread
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religions in Persia 800 years Before Christ
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and long before Arab invaders
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brought Islam into the country.
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Today, the flame of the ancient religion is tolerated
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more than Islamic minorities, dervishes or Sufis.
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(fire crackling)
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(people praying faintly)
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There are many traces of history in Yatz.
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In the past, desert cities everywhere
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were cooled and ventilated with wind towers.
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Ancient qanats provided an underground supply
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of water via pipes and channels.
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(Eastern string music)
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The town is a busy place.
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(children chatting)
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Schoolgirls visit mosques and Madrassas with their teachers.
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Islamic religious instruction, so to speak.
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(religious call and answering)
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Their fathers are busy elsewhere.
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(drums banging)
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In the mornings, men of all ages, wearing sports shirts
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and shorts gather to pray.
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(praying in foreign language)
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(drums beating)
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To the sound of drums, dozens of men
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start to perform gymnastic exercises
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in a ritual training program, known as Zohkane.
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Zokane, too, dates back to pre-Islamic times
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and has remained an institution through to the present day.
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(drums beating)
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The ceremony is led by the drummer, Ali Reza Hajafi
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(man vocalizing)
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(speaking in foreign language)
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People in Persia love and respect
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this form of sport.
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They practice it because they see it
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as a timeless legacy from their forefathers.
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It's a kind of monument
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to the physical training of bygone days.
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This is a martial tradition that has
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been handed down from our ancestors.
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People enjoy this form of sport,
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but because it is difficult,
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not everyone is able to perform the strength exercises.
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The warming up program is
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followed by work with clubs.
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The size and weight of the clubs used
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depends on the age and physical
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condition of each participant.
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It is a training program for male associations that can
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be compared with the Turner movement in Europe.
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(man singing in foreign language)
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People kept fit without weapons
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especially in times when superior forces
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from Arabia occupied the country.
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(men singing in foreign language)
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The songs being sung today
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are in honor of Ali, the Prophet's son-in-law.
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(men singing in foreign language)
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(speaking in foreign language)
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The youth must accept the experience
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of those who are older
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and they must pass on the doctrine of consideration
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and care for others, to the younger generation.
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They must teach them how to look after the community.
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This is the only sport that can be performed
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in every age group, it combines
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both religion and character development.
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(speaking in foreign language)
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(traditional percussive music ringing)
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Exercising with heavy iron bows
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indicated the old para-military character of Zohkane.
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(man vocalizing)
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(bow rattling)
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(drums peaking)
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In the concluding whirling dance
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each participant shows his agility
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and power of expression.
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This can even lead to a trans-like state
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which in the past characterized the dervishes.
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(rhythmic clapping and drumming)
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(trucks buzzing)
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(relaxing percussive music)
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Our journey continues along busy motorways.
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Today, because of the long embargo
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imposed by the West many goods enter Iran
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by land and sea from China and India.
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Changes on an ancient trade route
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which takes us from Yazd to Kerman.
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(mournful traditional music continuing)
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The focal point of every historic town
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in Iran is the bazaar
(people chattering)
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which also usually embraces tea houses,
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bath houses and mosques.
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Life here pulsates, and the range of goods on offer
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enables conclusions to be drawn
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as to the situation in the country.
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On markets in Iran cheap goods from China dominate
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and are displacing local handicrafts.
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But for many young families on a lower income,
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this is a blessing.
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(baby fussing)
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00:13:21,986 --> 00:13:23,060
(people buzzing)
272
00:13:23,060 --> 00:13:25,810
Shortly before Nowruz, the Persian New Year,
273
00:13:26,670 --> 00:13:29,670
every family buys seven talismans known as Haft Seen.
274
00:13:29,670 --> 00:13:33,423
The sales assistant explains the symbolism.
275
00:13:34,365 --> 00:13:36,733
(saleslady speaking in foreign language)
276
00:13:38,607 --> 00:13:39,605
[Female translator] This is a special table decoration
277
00:13:39,605 --> 00:13:41,610
which we call Sofreh Haft Seen,
278
00:13:41,610 --> 00:13:44,180
the table with the seven symbols.
279
00:13:44,180 --> 00:13:46,240
Just as St. Nicholas heralds the advent of Christmas
280
00:13:46,240 --> 00:13:49,430
in other countries, we have Hajji Firuz and Nane Sarma.
281
00:13:49,430 --> 00:13:53,843
Nane Sarma comes to every town
282
00:13:53,843 --> 00:13:56,430
and ends the coldness of winter.
283
00:13:56,430 --> 00:13:59,150
The cultural symbols of our New Year are,
284
00:13:59,150 --> 00:14:02,354
Ser, garlic; Serkeh, vinegar; Seb, Apple;
285
00:14:02,354 --> 00:14:06,726
Samah, spicy fruit; Senjed, mulberry or dried olives;
286
00:14:06,726 --> 00:14:11,100
and Samanu, a sweet pudding made from wheat.
287
00:14:11,100 --> 00:14:14,223
Each of these symbols stands for something.
288
00:14:17,140 --> 00:14:19,625
Ser, garlic, for health and wellbeing.
289
00:14:19,625 --> 00:14:22,246
Serkeh, vinegar, for along life and patience.
290
00:14:22,246 --> 00:14:25,778
Seb, apple, for loving care and the beautiful image
291
00:14:25,778 --> 00:14:29,640
of planting an apple seed in the ground
292
00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:32,100
and one day harvesting apples from the tree.
293
00:14:32,100 --> 00:14:34,753
Senjed, the wild olive or mulberry
294
00:14:35,913 --> 00:14:38,240
stands for love and compassion.
295
00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:40,653
A decorative goldfish as a gift
296
00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:44,650
is also an absolute must.
297
00:14:44,650 --> 00:14:46,563
(birdsong)
298
00:14:50,658 --> 00:14:52,482
(suspenseful music)
299
00:14:52,482 --> 00:14:55,320
Iran and the entire Orient are covered
300
00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:57,810
by a network of tombs where Sufi Saints were laid to rest.
301
00:14:57,810 --> 00:15:01,623
Shah Nimatullah Vali was a Sufi Master
302
00:15:02,750 --> 00:15:06,230
and his shrine near Kerman is visited
303
00:15:06,230 --> 00:15:08,680
by large numbers of Pilgrims.
304
00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:10,623
Islamic law in Iran regards Sufism
305
00:15:11,890 --> 00:15:14,470
as a form of superstition,
306
00:15:14,470 --> 00:15:16,390
however the tombs of the saints are tolerated.
307
00:15:16,390 --> 00:15:19,870
After all, the Sufi's were mediators
308
00:15:19,870 --> 00:15:22,100
between popular beliefs and incoming Islam.
309
00:15:22,100 --> 00:15:25,900
Today, the dervishes of Shah Nimatullah Vali
310
00:15:25,900 --> 00:15:28,820
are scattered world-wide
311
00:15:28,820 --> 00:15:30,440
and the order is led from London.
312
00:15:30,440 --> 00:15:32,842
(cheerful Eastern music)
313
00:15:32,842 --> 00:15:34,030
Our journey is becoming more and more
314
00:15:34,030 --> 00:15:35,770
of an adventure with snow covered mountains,
315
00:15:35,770 --> 00:15:38,240
high passes and salt deserts by the roadside.
316
00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:41,583
There are over 50 arid regions in Iran
317
00:15:42,670 --> 00:15:45,640
and the Lut Desert is the biggest,
318
00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:47,810
hottest and most desolate collection of sand
319
00:15:47,810 --> 00:15:50,910
and salt in the country.
320
00:15:50,910 --> 00:15:52,233
It's also part of the world's natural heritage.
321
00:15:53,300 --> 00:15:56,567
(reflective music)
322
00:15:56,567 --> 00:15:59,484
In Summer temperatures of up to 70 degrees Celsius
323
00:16:09,660 --> 00:16:13,010
have been recorded here.
324
00:16:13,010 --> 00:16:15,000
The Lut Desert is famous for the mystical sand formations
325
00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:18,090
created solely by wind and erosion.
326
00:16:18,090 --> 00:16:21,000
The kaluds, as they're known.
327
00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:22,673
Strangers rarely venture into this hostile
328
00:16:24,030 --> 00:16:26,490
and sparsely populated region.
329
00:16:26,490 --> 00:16:28,643
But it's on the edge of the desert
330
00:16:37,650 --> 00:16:39,530
we encounter human life once again,
331
00:16:39,530 --> 00:16:42,470
a camel breeder looking after his animals.
332
00:16:42,470 --> 00:16:45,470
During the daytime, the camels roam freely.
333
00:16:45,470 --> 00:16:48,290
At night, they're tethered again
334
00:16:48,290 --> 00:16:50,190
in the vicinity of the village.
335
00:16:50,190 --> 00:16:52,550
The animals are fed roots,
336
00:16:52,550 --> 00:16:54,250
which have been dug out of the sand
337
00:16:54,250 --> 00:16:55,980
and seem to be very tasty.
338
00:16:55,980 --> 00:16:57,803
(wind pumping)
339
00:16:59,131 --> 00:17:01,110
The camel breeder examines his animals
340
00:17:01,110 --> 00:17:03,160
for any possible injuries or bite wounds.
341
00:17:03,160 --> 00:17:06,270
He also frees them from the biggest
342
00:17:06,270 --> 00:17:08,180
and most annoying plague, in the desert, ticks.
343
00:17:08,180 --> 00:17:12,230
Mohammed told us about his life here.
344
00:17:12,230 --> 00:17:14,333
(camel braying and flubbering)
345
00:17:15,563 --> 00:17:19,467
(speaking in foreign language)
346
00:17:19,467 --> 00:17:20,610
The region here is really arid
347
00:17:20,610 --> 00:17:22,760
because it hardly ever rains.
348
00:17:22,760 --> 00:17:24,920
So to feed the camels, I have to buy
349
00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:26,870
straw, barley and other things.
350
00:17:26,870 --> 00:17:29,115
Even so you can still live well here
351
00:17:29,115 --> 00:17:31,770
as a camel breeder,
352
00:17:31,770 --> 00:17:32,973
if only God would let more rain fall,
353
00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:36,993
but Spring will soon be here.
354
00:17:38,540 --> 00:17:40,710
Then this is a paradise for breeders and camels.
355
00:17:40,710 --> 00:17:43,713
The animals provide us with good milk
356
00:17:44,780 --> 00:17:47,367
and there's a big demand for their meat,
357
00:17:47,367 --> 00:17:49,680
which fetches high prices.
358
00:17:49,680 --> 00:17:52,020
What is more than camels are used to people.
359
00:17:52,020 --> 00:17:54,650
They are tame, so you can ride them
360
00:17:54,650 --> 00:17:56,830
and take part in races.
361
00:17:56,830 --> 00:17:58,819
(man continuing in foreign language)
362
00:17:58,819 --> 00:18:01,810
Most of the villages keep their own camels and sheep.
363
00:18:01,810 --> 00:18:05,123
There is also a bit of agriculture here,
364
00:18:06,050 --> 00:18:09,080
mainly cereals and dates.
365
00:18:09,080 --> 00:18:11,253
The best profit is made from selling dates,
366
00:18:13,010 --> 00:18:15,523
but the powerful wind and storms
367
00:18:16,900 --> 00:18:18,660
in the desert are a problem.
368
00:18:18,660 --> 00:18:20,357
Harvests are affected and sometimes even destroyed.
369
00:18:20,357 --> 00:18:23,943
Otherwise there are more than enough
370
00:18:24,940 --> 00:18:26,750
dates to be gathered here.
371
00:18:26,750 --> 00:18:28,273
(camel contributing)
372
00:18:30,638 --> 00:18:34,150
The name of the village is Deh-Sum.
373
00:18:34,150 --> 00:18:37,030
The central government has provided bricks
374
00:18:37,030 --> 00:18:39,040
for every household.
375
00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:40,990
It is March and people here find the pleasant
376
00:18:40,990 --> 00:18:43,600
28 degree temperature rather fresh.
377
00:18:43,600 --> 00:18:46,530
In summer it gets twice as hot.
378
00:18:46,530 --> 00:18:48,335
(engine purring)
379
00:18:48,335 --> 00:18:50,391
(speaking in foreign language)
380
00:18:50,391 --> 00:18:54,308
(water splashing)
381
00:18:56,512 --> 00:18:58,108
The New Year festival is approaching
382
00:18:58,108 --> 00:19:00,050
and in keeping with tradition,
383
00:19:00,050 --> 00:19:01,990
every household washes its carpets beforehand.
384
00:19:01,990 --> 00:19:04,753
(women chattering)
385
00:19:09,079 --> 00:19:10,020
Women in the desert wear bright colors,
386
00:19:10,020 --> 00:19:12,930
a pleasant contrast to the black garments
387
00:19:12,930 --> 00:19:15,010
seen in the towns.
388
00:19:15,010 --> 00:19:16,880
But before filming these women,
389
00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:18,760
you first need the permission of their husbands or fathers.
390
00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:21,710
(speaking in foreign language)
391
00:19:22,962 --> 00:19:26,879
In Deh Sum there is a modern workshop
392
00:19:37,270 --> 00:19:39,550
where carpets are woven.
393
00:19:39,550 --> 00:19:41,430
It's available to all the women.
394
00:19:41,430 --> 00:19:43,680
So anyone who has the time can work here.
395
00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:45,743
The money earned from selling the carpets is shared out.
396
00:19:46,650 --> 00:19:50,180
This is highly unusual.
397
00:19:50,180 --> 00:19:52,030
And the result of work by an Iranian foundation,
398
00:19:52,030 --> 00:19:54,670
which is striving to improve the quality of life
399
00:19:54,670 --> 00:19:57,350
of women in the countryside.
400
00:19:57,350 --> 00:19:58,930
(loom clicking)
401
00:19:58,930 --> 00:19:59,882
(women chattering)
402
00:19:59,882 --> 00:20:02,799
The women are open, but shy and reserved when addressed.
403
00:20:07,040 --> 00:20:11,270
They don't want to say the wrong thing
404
00:20:11,270 --> 00:20:12,820
to visitors from abroad.
405
00:20:12,820 --> 00:20:14,580
So it takes a while before we can start up a conversation.
406
00:20:14,580 --> 00:20:17,941
(chattering continues)
407
00:20:17,941 --> 00:20:21,393
(speaking in foreign language)
408
00:20:21,393 --> 00:20:22,240
[Female translator] The women in the village
409
00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:23,080
work just as hard as the men.
410
00:20:23,080 --> 00:20:25,060
There is no difference.
411
00:20:25,060 --> 00:20:26,280
The day begins with household duties.
412
00:20:26,280 --> 00:20:28,940
The women make dough and bake bread.
413
00:20:28,940 --> 00:20:30,960
Afterwards they go to the fields
414
00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:32,690
and cut grass for the sheep.
415
00:20:32,690 --> 00:20:34,930
Only then do they go on to the weaving shop
416
00:20:34,930 --> 00:20:37,450
and make mats and carpets.
417
00:20:37,450 --> 00:20:39,600
Women here show a lot of commitment.
418
00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:42,100
They really work hard.
419
00:20:42,100 --> 00:20:43,403
The villagers are hospitable and curious as well.
420
00:20:46,840 --> 00:20:50,090
They get the accommodation ready
421
00:20:50,090 --> 00:20:52,080
and go to great lengths in preparing the food.
422
00:20:52,080 --> 00:20:55,490
They like foreign visitors and take good care of them.
423
00:20:55,490 --> 00:20:58,190
I don't really know what else to say.
424
00:21:03,680 --> 00:21:05,687
(laughing)
425
00:21:05,687 --> 00:21:06,816
(dough slapping)
426
00:21:06,816 --> 00:21:07,649
Mrs. Mohammadi is self-confident
427
00:21:07,649 --> 00:21:09,450
and not a bit shy.
428
00:21:09,450 --> 00:21:11,130
She doesn't have a husband to tell her
429
00:21:11,130 --> 00:21:12,590
what she can and can't do
430
00:21:12,590 --> 00:21:14,290
and her brother doesn't interfere either.
431
00:21:14,290 --> 00:21:16,780
Persian women are self-assured,
432
00:21:16,780 --> 00:21:18,510
but in the countryside, fathers, brothers and husbands
433
00:21:18,510 --> 00:21:21,120
are far more dominant than in the towns and cities.
434
00:21:21,120 --> 00:21:24,450
From time immemorial bread has been baked
435
00:21:24,450 --> 00:21:27,000
with the simplest of means in an earth oven.
436
00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:29,940
Every village, every region has a slightly different style.
437
00:21:29,940 --> 00:21:33,480
Sometimes the loaf is thicker sometimes longer,
438
00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:36,680
but above all, it is the different
439
00:21:36,680 --> 00:21:38,490
decoration and texture that show where a loaf comes from.
440
00:21:38,490 --> 00:21:42,180
The daily demand for bread is huge.
441
00:21:42,180 --> 00:21:44,770
It's eaten at every meal, preferably oven fresh and crispy.
442
00:21:44,770 --> 00:21:48,493
(inspirational music)
443
00:21:49,650 --> 00:21:52,817
Iran is four times the size of Germany and full of history.
444
00:21:59,390 --> 00:22:03,900
Like here by the roadside,
445
00:22:03,900 --> 00:22:05,690
excavation sites can be seen everywhere.
446
00:22:05,690 --> 00:22:07,863
This for example is a 400 year old
447
00:22:11,060 --> 00:22:13,560
clay-built city from Safavid times.
448
00:22:13,560 --> 00:22:16,640
Even a layman can easily recognize
449
00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:18,760
traces of cultural achievements, wind towers,
450
00:22:18,760 --> 00:22:22,150
sewage and water supply systems,
451
00:22:22,150 --> 00:22:24,220
Pagodas, defensive walls and caravan (indistinct).
452
00:22:24,220 --> 00:22:27,097
(music sustains)
453
00:22:27,981 --> 00:22:30,731
Wherever you go and whatever you see,
454
00:22:35,413 --> 00:22:37,740
as a traveler in Iran from day to day,
455
00:22:37,740 --> 00:22:40,490
your respect grows for the history and culture
456
00:22:40,490 --> 00:22:43,050
of an ancient people.
457
00:22:43,050 --> 00:22:44,527
We're approaching an important city on the silk route.
458
00:22:50,520 --> 00:22:53,890
Mashad is a commercial center
459
00:22:53,890 --> 00:22:56,100
and the holiest place of Shiite Islam on Iranian soil.
460
00:22:56,100 --> 00:22:59,873
(city buzzing)
461
00:22:59,873 --> 00:23:02,456
Every year, more than 30 million pilgrims travel
462
00:23:05,240 --> 00:23:08,120
to Mashad to visit the mausoleum of Imam Reza.
463
00:23:08,120 --> 00:23:12,460
The tomb is also of enormous commercial importance.
464
00:23:12,460 --> 00:23:15,950
Pilgrims stay in hotels, go shopping, make donations,
465
00:23:15,950 --> 00:23:19,720
and very often bequeath their entire estate to the shrine.
466
00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:23,540
This is one reason for the vast wealth
467
00:23:23,540 --> 00:23:25,620
of Iran's second biggest city.
468
00:23:25,620 --> 00:23:28,490
The Holy precinct around the tomb
469
00:23:28,490 --> 00:23:30,230
of the eighth Imam Reza is well guarded.
470
00:23:30,230 --> 00:23:33,170
Every Pilgrim tries to linger here for as long as possible.
471
00:23:33,170 --> 00:23:36,710
Being allowed to experience without prejudice,
472
00:23:36,710 --> 00:23:38,990
members of another religion on their
473
00:23:38,990 --> 00:23:40,550
most important pilgrimage is a memorable experience.
474
00:23:40,550 --> 00:23:44,253
(people buzzing)
475
00:23:44,253 --> 00:23:47,003
Journeying on towards Bukhara and Samarkand,
476
00:23:48,540 --> 00:23:51,680
we reach Uzbekistan.
477
00:23:51,680 --> 00:23:54,003
(relaxing Eastern music)
478
00:23:54,003 --> 00:23:57,420
The mountains of Uzbekistan are just bidding
479
00:24:01,350 --> 00:24:03,970
farewell to winter and spring has yet to arrive.
480
00:24:03,970 --> 00:24:07,193
People are yearning for warmer days
481
00:24:08,100 --> 00:24:10,220
and are preparing to celebrate the new season
482
00:24:10,220 --> 00:24:12,560
with the Nowruz festival.
483
00:24:12,560 --> 00:24:14,053
In Iran this Spring festival lasts for 10 days.
484
00:24:14,890 --> 00:24:18,650
In Uzbekistan, everything is focused on just one day.
485
00:24:18,650 --> 00:24:22,083
(mincer turning)
486
00:24:24,381 --> 00:24:26,370
Using sprouting, winter-barley, oil, flour, and walnuts
487
00:24:26,370 --> 00:24:30,410
women in the villages spend many hours preparing
488
00:24:30,410 --> 00:24:32,773
a dish called Sumaluk.
489
00:24:32,773 --> 00:24:35,170
It is a tradition that is said to go back
490
00:24:35,170 --> 00:24:37,130
to the Mongol Khan Temur.
491
00:24:37,130 --> 00:24:39,265
(children chattering)
492
00:24:39,265 --> 00:24:40,098
The neighbors already gathering the early morning
493
00:24:40,098 --> 00:24:42,230
to stir the mass in a large vat and boil it.
494
00:24:42,230 --> 00:24:45,809
(drums beating festively)
495
00:24:45,809 --> 00:24:47,120
(people conversing)
496
00:24:47,120 --> 00:24:50,120
The mood is cheerful and getting increasingly exuberant.
497
00:24:55,120 --> 00:24:58,881
(traditional drum rattles)
498
00:24:58,881 --> 00:25:00,771
(child vocalizing)
499
00:25:00,771 --> 00:25:01,740
In the afternoon, after many hours,
500
00:25:01,740 --> 00:25:03,720
the Sumaluk has the right consistency
501
00:25:03,720 --> 00:25:06,510
and can be dished out as the official food
502
00:25:06,510 --> 00:25:08,810
at the New Year festival.
503
00:25:08,810 --> 00:25:10,385
(drum continues)
504
00:25:10,385 --> 00:25:11,218
By now, celebrations are taking place everywhere.
505
00:25:11,218 --> 00:25:14,480
Uzbekistan is not an Islamic Republic
506
00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:17,500
and women are allowed to dance and rejoice in public.
507
00:25:17,500 --> 00:25:20,599
(traditional music ringing out)
508
00:25:20,599 --> 00:25:24,840
The state-organized New Year celebration
509
00:25:24,840 --> 00:25:27,220
for the surrounding towns and villages takes place
510
00:25:27,220 --> 00:25:30,000
in the middle of the countryside.
511
00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:31,650
Uzbekistan's most expensive pop stars have been hired.
512
00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:36,490
They charge up to $6,000 to perform at weddings.
513
00:25:36,490 --> 00:25:40,148
(singing in foreign language)
514
00:25:40,148 --> 00:25:43,981
It's an official festival for the whole family
515
00:25:49,620 --> 00:25:52,500
positioned somewhere between folklore and pop,
516
00:25:52,500 --> 00:25:55,400
between the traditional and the modern.
517
00:25:55,400 --> 00:25:57,483
For more than two generations Uzbekistan
518
00:26:01,124 --> 00:26:03,630
was a Soviet Republic.
519
00:26:03,630 --> 00:26:05,750
It is not only at the New Year's festival,
520
00:26:05,750 --> 00:26:07,690
that the behavior patterns of that epoch is still visible.
521
00:26:07,690 --> 00:26:10,613
(man announcing)
522
00:26:13,845 --> 00:26:17,410
The men and boys in the mountains celebrate New Year in the
523
00:26:17,410 --> 00:26:20,120
traditional way with a wild
524
00:26:20,120 --> 00:26:22,530
equestrian game known as Kupkari.
525
00:26:22,530 --> 00:26:24,963
A tractor transports a dead sheep
526
00:26:25,870 --> 00:26:27,980
into the step and each rider tries
527
00:26:27,980 --> 00:26:30,140
to take possession of it.
528
00:26:30,140 --> 00:26:31,930
The rules are simple.
529
00:26:31,930 --> 00:26:33,770
It's illegal to hit someone in the face
530
00:26:33,770 --> 00:26:36,090
insult an opponent or drink vodka.
531
00:26:36,090 --> 00:26:39,180
However, only serious violations are punished.
532
00:26:39,180 --> 00:26:42,610
Injuries are par for the course.
533
00:26:42,610 --> 00:26:44,793
(announcer speaking in foreign language)
534
00:26:46,541 --> 00:26:48,080
the commentator whips up the contest and praises
535
00:26:48,080 --> 00:26:50,550
the riders bringing back the sheep.
536
00:26:50,550 --> 00:26:52,708
Besides prestige, money and other prizes beckon.
537
00:26:52,708 --> 00:26:56,073
The passion for this sport seems infinite
538
00:27:03,010 --> 00:27:05,740
and the contests go on for hours.
539
00:27:05,740 --> 00:27:08,326
(commentator enthusing)
540
00:27:08,326 --> 00:27:11,659
(children chattering)
541
00:27:14,201 --> 00:27:17,570
The Sumaluk now has the right consistency,
542
00:27:17,570 --> 00:27:20,580
the dish is honored
543
00:27:20,580 --> 00:27:21,880
and the anticipation of enjoying
544
00:27:21,880 --> 00:27:23,490
this special New Year's
545
00:27:23,490 --> 00:27:24,760
pudding can be felt everywhere.
546
00:27:24,760 --> 00:27:26,473
Something that has been cooking for so long, must be good.
547
00:27:27,330 --> 00:27:30,560
And the Mongol Khans saw Sumaluk as a source of energy
548
00:27:30,560 --> 00:27:33,930
and protection against illness,
549
00:27:33,930 --> 00:27:35,823
nothing wrong with having a quick taste.
550
00:27:37,100 --> 00:27:40,070
The New Year's dish is distributed to every household
551
00:27:40,070 --> 00:27:42,880
and every family member.
552
00:27:42,880 --> 00:27:45,130
The taste is strange, a bit like
553
00:27:45,130 --> 00:27:47,720
bitter sweet beer with nutty starch.
554
00:27:47,720 --> 00:27:50,660
But at all events for people here,
555
00:27:50,660 --> 00:27:52,320
it is a long-awaited delicacy.
556
00:27:52,320 --> 00:27:54,393
(child enthuses)
557
00:27:54,393 --> 00:27:55,806
(relaxing string music)
558
00:27:55,806 --> 00:27:58,400
In Uzbekistan we have been invited by a family
559
00:27:58,400 --> 00:28:00,780
that has been living in the Sufi-tradition for generations.
560
00:28:00,780 --> 00:28:03,870
And it's thus closer to Oriental law than normal Uzbeks.
561
00:28:03,870 --> 00:28:08,167
(music sustains)
562
00:28:08,167 --> 00:28:10,917
We're taking tea with the family
563
00:28:13,810 --> 00:28:15,530
of herbal Doctor Sufi Tabib.
564
00:28:15,530 --> 00:28:18,190
He has a young wife and young children,
565
00:28:18,190 --> 00:28:20,460
but also grown-up sons.
566
00:28:20,460 --> 00:28:22,880
We try to understand what he does and how he lives.
567
00:28:22,880 --> 00:28:25,943
In the tradition of educated Orientals
568
00:28:31,390 --> 00:28:33,930
he responds to our questions in French.
569
00:28:33,930 --> 00:28:36,283
(Dr. Tabib speaking in French)
570
00:28:39,774 --> 00:28:43,240
I see my mission in helping people,
571
00:28:43,240 --> 00:28:45,740
I care for many who are not well,
572
00:28:49,500 --> 00:28:52,380
up to 200 patients a day.
573
00:28:52,380 --> 00:28:54,563
We collect herbs for treatment purposes all year round.
574
00:28:57,690 --> 00:29:01,093
My children also help, at the same time,
575
00:29:01,970 --> 00:29:05,150
I live and spread the philosophy of the Sufis.
576
00:29:05,150 --> 00:29:07,633
My particular school of Sufism is Nosafar Dia,
577
00:29:10,950 --> 00:29:15,440
which also integrates modern elements of Sufi-doctrine.
578
00:29:15,440 --> 00:29:18,943
(relaxing string music)
579
00:29:20,933 --> 00:29:24,266
On our way to Bukhara, Sufi Tabib
580
00:29:34,620 --> 00:29:37,010
and his son Ulugbeg are showing us
581
00:29:37,010 --> 00:29:39,430
an ancient Sufi and Muslim site
582
00:29:39,430 --> 00:29:41,930
which was even visited during the Soviet-era.
583
00:29:41,930 --> 00:29:45,220
In those days, religion and spirituality
584
00:29:45,220 --> 00:29:47,890
were regarded as reactionary.
585
00:29:47,890 --> 00:29:50,400
Many traditions only survived in secret.
586
00:29:50,400 --> 00:29:52,863
This place holds a special significance
587
00:29:55,350 --> 00:29:57,480
for our hosts and there is a reason for it.
588
00:29:57,480 --> 00:30:00,113
(birdsong)
589
00:30:01,250 --> 00:30:02,230
(music continues)
590
00:30:02,230 --> 00:30:05,063
(Dr. Tabib speaking French)
591
00:30:06,118 --> 00:30:08,400
This place is called "Four Brothers,"
592
00:30:08,400 --> 00:30:11,410
Why Four Brothers?
593
00:30:11,410 --> 00:30:12,803
Islam has its own explanation.
594
00:30:14,140 --> 00:30:16,323
But I know that the name Four Brothers
595
00:30:18,530 --> 00:30:20,940
refers to Sufism and three religions,
596
00:30:20,940 --> 00:30:25,360
Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.
597
00:30:25,360 --> 00:30:28,121
(Dr. Tabib continuing in French)
598
00:30:28,121 --> 00:30:30,570
Why do I enjoy coming to the Four Brothers so much?
599
00:30:30,570 --> 00:30:33,583
I first came here in 1984 during the Soviet era,
600
00:30:34,920 --> 00:30:38,640
the site looked like a ruin.
601
00:30:38,640 --> 00:30:41,250
There were no proper buildings, just a pile of rubble.
602
00:30:41,250 --> 00:30:44,910
Nevertheless, we kept coming back here
603
00:30:44,910 --> 00:30:47,490
because I felt the good energy
604
00:30:47,490 --> 00:30:49,700
of our ancestors and the Sufi's.
605
00:30:49,700 --> 00:30:52,067
And that is why I chose this place.
606
00:30:52,916 --> 00:30:55,073
(religious incanting)
607
00:30:56,833 --> 00:31:00,000
The two men allow us to watch them engage in the prayer
608
00:31:01,139 --> 00:31:04,180
ritual of the Sufi in a meditation retreat.
609
00:31:04,180 --> 00:31:07,233
It consists of rhythmically performed prayer mantras,
610
00:31:08,101 --> 00:31:12,170
kind of vocal respiration,
611
00:31:12,170 --> 00:31:13,710
but quickly leads to a trance-like state.
612
00:31:13,710 --> 00:31:16,123
Established Islam sees this
613
00:31:17,040 --> 00:31:18,560
as pure shamanism and superstition,
614
00:31:18,560 --> 00:31:21,640
but for Sufi's this form of prayer
615
00:31:21,640 --> 00:31:24,020
is the core of their religious practice.
616
00:31:24,020 --> 00:31:26,412
(incantations continuing)
617
00:31:26,412 --> 00:31:29,912
(Dr. Tabib speaking in French)
618
00:31:36,739 --> 00:31:39,540
In Sufism this meditation is known as Zikr.
619
00:31:39,540 --> 00:31:42,773
So, for breathing exercises, physical exercises,
620
00:31:44,350 --> 00:31:49,270
gymnastics, and Zikr.
621
00:31:49,270 --> 00:31:51,160
It's a complex system.
622
00:31:52,210 --> 00:31:54,660
Why do we practice Zikr?
623
00:31:54,660 --> 00:31:56,810
All Sufis practice Zikr.
624
00:31:56,810 --> 00:31:58,383
The most important reason is to acquire the energy of God.
625
00:31:59,960 --> 00:32:03,993
Secondly, we want to develop inwardly
626
00:32:04,970 --> 00:32:07,970
to progress towards personal perfection,
627
00:32:07,970 --> 00:32:11,000
to feel spirituality.
628
00:32:11,000 --> 00:32:13,080
And if the prerequisites exist,
629
00:32:13,080 --> 00:32:15,450
to aspire to divine knowledge.
630
00:32:15,450 --> 00:32:17,253
For Sufi, Tabib, martial arts
631
00:32:22,250 --> 00:32:24,610
are just as much a part of the exercise
632
00:32:24,610 --> 00:32:26,620
program as gymnastics, meditation, nutrition,
633
00:32:26,620 --> 00:32:29,930
cosmetics, calligraphy, and movement in nature.
634
00:32:29,930 --> 00:32:33,373
What he practices as a Sufi,
635
00:32:37,490 --> 00:32:39,190
Tabib also prescribes for his pupils
636
00:32:39,190 --> 00:32:41,830
and patients and interest is great.
637
00:32:41,830 --> 00:32:44,747
(birdsong sounding)
638
00:32:44,747 --> 00:32:45,580
In Central Asia, too many people feel out of balance
639
00:32:45,580 --> 00:32:48,550
and are searching for answers.
640
00:32:48,550 --> 00:32:50,470
Sufi Tabib told us why.
641
00:32:50,470 --> 00:32:52,483
(speaking French)
642
00:32:55,466 --> 00:32:58,299
In my view, people here too,
643
00:33:00,150 --> 00:33:02,560
have begun to live in the modern world.
644
00:33:02,560 --> 00:33:04,643
They sit in their cars, they eat a lot.
645
00:33:06,500 --> 00:33:10,573
They don't do any physical activity or breathing exercises.
646
00:33:11,940 --> 00:33:16,715
But the greatest problem I feel
647
00:33:16,715 --> 00:33:18,340
is that they are losing spirituality.
648
00:33:19,353 --> 00:33:21,400
The link with divine energy is tenuous.
649
00:33:21,400 --> 00:33:24,240
People can no longer absorb the breath of God.
650
00:33:24,240 --> 00:33:27,270
They cannot connect to it.
651
00:33:27,270 --> 00:33:28,733
Sufi Tabib and his sons run several practices
652
00:33:31,950 --> 00:33:35,070
in Tashk and Buhkara.
653
00:33:35,070 --> 00:33:37,560
These are located not in exclusive areas,
654
00:33:37,560 --> 00:33:39,950
but in prefabricated buildings where ordinary people live.
655
00:33:39,950 --> 00:33:43,713
Patients often come from neighboring countries
656
00:33:46,290 --> 00:33:49,270
in the style of the ancient physicians of the Orient
657
00:33:49,270 --> 00:33:52,220
Tabib establishes contact by the patient's pulse.
658
00:33:52,220 --> 00:33:55,950
He talks to his patients and shows care.
659
00:33:55,950 --> 00:33:58,293
As a rule he prescribes herbal medicine,
660
00:33:59,150 --> 00:34:02,200
recommends movement exercises and meditation,
661
00:34:02,200 --> 00:34:05,400
gives dietary tips and prescribes massages.
662
00:34:05,400 --> 00:34:08,303
He only does what he learned from his forefathers.
663
00:34:09,200 --> 00:34:11,580
He told us there is also something else that links him
664
00:34:11,580 --> 00:34:15,260
to the great physician Abu Ali Sina,
665
00:34:15,260 --> 00:34:17,780
also known as Abi Sina.
666
00:34:17,780 --> 00:34:19,563
(Dr. Tabib speaking french)
667
00:34:21,185 --> 00:34:24,910
We use the great Abi Sina's knowledge,
668
00:34:24,910 --> 00:34:27,470
of the medicinal plants he studied.
669
00:34:27,470 --> 00:34:29,874
and no other methods.
670
00:34:29,874 --> 00:34:31,653
In our treatments we rely on our ancestors
671
00:34:34,780 --> 00:34:38,030
who from 13th century on passed
672
00:34:39,080 --> 00:34:42,140
everything down from generation to generation.
673
00:34:42,140 --> 00:34:45,623
We apply their knowledge in our massages,
674
00:34:49,590 --> 00:34:53,300
in our brain treatments, in our use of medicinal plants,
675
00:34:53,300 --> 00:34:58,253
in diagnosis and in gymnastic and breathing exercises.
676
00:34:59,389 --> 00:35:04,389
To compliment that, thanks to our own studies,
677
00:35:07,790 --> 00:35:12,000
we add a few new applications, that's all.
678
00:35:12,000 --> 00:35:15,763
Located next door
679
00:35:18,450 --> 00:35:19,510
is the Sufi doctor's, pharmacy,
680
00:35:19,510 --> 00:35:21,570
where patients can obtain the remedies
681
00:35:21,570 --> 00:35:23,500
that have been prescribed.
682
00:35:23,500 --> 00:35:25,560
All the medication, tinctures, teas and oils
683
00:35:25,560 --> 00:35:28,430
are made from Uzbek, herbs and roots.
684
00:35:28,430 --> 00:35:31,240
They said to be effective against virtually everything.
685
00:35:31,240 --> 00:35:34,280
Prices are affordable.
686
00:35:34,280 --> 00:35:36,540
In Uzbekistan only the upper class
687
00:35:36,540 --> 00:35:38,520
can afford the expensive drugs manufactured
688
00:35:38,520 --> 00:35:40,770
by international pharmaceutical companies.
689
00:35:40,770 --> 00:35:42,870
Roots and herbs are collected all year round.
690
00:35:44,700 --> 00:35:47,320
In Winter certain plants are found in the deserts,
691
00:35:47,320 --> 00:35:50,410
in Summer Uzbekistan is full of herbs.
692
00:35:50,410 --> 00:35:53,300
And in autumn, herbs are harvested in the mountains.
693
00:35:53,300 --> 00:35:56,501
(men chatting)
694
00:35:56,501 --> 00:35:59,084
(spade digging)
695
00:36:00,740 --> 00:36:03,407
(wind gusting)
696
00:36:04,441 --> 00:36:07,587
(men chattering)
697
00:36:07,587 --> 00:36:10,337
(car whooshing)
698
00:36:11,703 --> 00:36:14,370
The herbs and roots are stored at central locations
699
00:36:15,246 --> 00:36:17,960
where they're also mixed and processed
700
00:36:17,960 --> 00:36:20,010
in line with ancient formulas and mixing ratios.
701
00:36:20,010 --> 00:36:23,053
(men chattering)
702
00:36:23,957 --> 00:36:26,707
Most of the several dozen people who work
703
00:36:29,240 --> 00:36:31,200
in the herb factory belong to the Sufi Tabib clan.
704
00:36:31,200 --> 00:36:34,960
The son, Ulugbeg is in charge here.
705
00:36:34,960 --> 00:36:37,903
(fluid swishes)
706
00:36:37,903 --> 00:36:40,570
We have trees of generation.
707
00:36:42,170 --> 00:36:46,070
Sufi Tabib is 14th.
708
00:36:46,070 --> 00:36:48,000
I am the 15th.
709
00:36:48,000 --> 00:36:49,980
So Sufi Tabib knows fourteens his fathers and grandfathers
710
00:36:49,980 --> 00:36:54,980
and grand grand grand fathers.
711
00:36:56,130 --> 00:36:57,913
Finally, the medications are bottled and labeled.
712
00:37:00,800 --> 00:37:04,240
Many products are also sent to regular customers
713
00:37:04,240 --> 00:37:06,800
as far afield as Russia.
714
00:37:06,800 --> 00:37:08,363
(Ulugbeg speaking in foreign language)
715
00:37:11,012 --> 00:37:15,491
(ladies chattering)
716
00:37:15,491 --> 00:37:18,491
The market for herbal products is booming
717
00:37:19,540 --> 00:37:22,420
and in Uzbekistan, everyone is happy to have an income.
718
00:37:22,420 --> 00:37:25,767
(packets crackling)
719
00:37:28,462 --> 00:37:31,462
(man chattering in foreign language)
720
00:37:32,911 --> 00:37:33,744
The staff all eat together
721
00:37:33,744 --> 00:37:34,890
according to the national custom,
722
00:37:34,890 --> 00:37:36,840
Sitting on the ground in nomad-style,
723
00:37:36,840 --> 00:37:39,510
the table is laid with far more food
724
00:37:39,510 --> 00:37:41,500
than they could ever eat.
725
00:37:41,500 --> 00:37:43,208
(diners conversing)
726
00:37:43,208 --> 00:37:46,208
Only the work uniforms are a slight reminder
727
00:37:49,720 --> 00:37:52,540
of former Soviet days.
728
00:37:52,540 --> 00:37:54,173
(chattering continues)
729
00:37:57,540 --> 00:38:00,790
(lively music)
730
00:38:02,097 --> 00:38:04,680
At one time, Bukhara was one
731
00:38:06,480 --> 00:38:08,310
of the great cities of the Orient,
732
00:38:08,310 --> 00:38:10,560
a trading center with splendid buildings.
733
00:38:10,560 --> 00:38:13,210
It was a place of religious tolerance.
734
00:38:13,210 --> 00:38:15,387
In the past Bukhara belonged to the great Persian Empire
735
00:38:15,387 --> 00:38:19,630
and the Emir of Bukhara held sway
736
00:38:19,630 --> 00:38:21,900
over large parts of Central Asia.
737
00:38:21,900 --> 00:38:24,318
(music continues)
738
00:38:24,318 --> 00:38:27,151
Sufi Tabib has brought us to
739
00:38:37,070 --> 00:38:38,620
the Jewish cemetery in Bukhara.
740
00:38:38,620 --> 00:38:41,190
He wants to remind us of the days of cultural diversity
741
00:38:41,190 --> 00:38:44,400
and religious tolerance, which he wishes
742
00:38:44,400 --> 00:38:46,900
for Uzbekistan in the future too.
743
00:38:46,900 --> 00:38:48,623
(footsteps falling)
744
00:38:49,878 --> 00:38:52,878
(Dr. Tabib speaking in French)
745
00:38:54,281 --> 00:38:55,550
Bukhara has always been a center of religion,
746
00:38:55,550 --> 00:38:58,500
but not just of Islam, Jews, and Christians were also here.
747
00:38:58,500 --> 00:39:03,430
The doctrine of Sufism was also highly developed here.
748
00:39:03,430 --> 00:39:07,512
Why did Bukhara become a center of religion?
749
00:39:07,512 --> 00:39:10,513
It's because many Sufies came here
750
00:39:11,420 --> 00:39:13,517
and the mental attitude was very sophisticated.
751
00:39:13,517 --> 00:39:17,580
Sufism accepts all religions because it has
752
00:39:17,580 --> 00:39:20,680
never turned against any religion.
753
00:39:20,680 --> 00:39:23,320
It works with religions.
754
00:39:23,320 --> 00:39:25,100
It tolerates religions because Sufism
755
00:39:25,100 --> 00:39:27,810
is found in all religions.
756
00:39:27,810 --> 00:39:29,660
We are here at the Jewish cemetery and you can see how well
757
00:39:29,660 --> 00:39:32,720
it has been preserved here in Uzbekistan.
758
00:39:32,720 --> 00:39:34,770
Bukhara still has a lively Jewish community,
759
00:39:38,400 --> 00:39:41,220
two synagogues, schools and kindergartens.
760
00:39:41,220 --> 00:39:44,550
However their number of community members
761
00:39:44,550 --> 00:39:46,840
is steadily declining, for Jews in Uzbekistan
762
00:39:46,840 --> 00:39:50,530
it is easy to immigrate to America or Israel.
763
00:39:50,530 --> 00:39:53,353
(relaxing Eastern music)
764
00:40:00,502 --> 00:40:01,750
The final stage of our journey to the Orient
765
00:40:01,750 --> 00:40:04,430
takes us to Samarkand, a place of yearning
766
00:40:04,430 --> 00:40:07,810
and a historic center of scholarship in
767
00:40:07,810 --> 00:40:09,940
science and architecture.
768
00:40:09,940 --> 00:40:11,503
This is an important place,
769
00:40:12,500 --> 00:40:14,450
especially in times when some people associate the terms,
770
00:40:14,450 --> 00:40:17,380
Orient and Islam with danger.
771
00:40:17,380 --> 00:40:20,239
(music continues)
772
00:40:20,239 --> 00:40:23,072
In Samarkand Sufi Tabib told us
773
00:40:28,970 --> 00:40:31,500
about the history of the region
774
00:40:31,500 --> 00:40:33,560
and expressed his hopes for
775
00:40:33,560 --> 00:40:34,870
the inspirational effect of former ties.
776
00:40:34,870 --> 00:40:37,803
(Dr. Tabib speaking French)
777
00:40:39,279 --> 00:40:41,900
Up until the 16th century central Asia
778
00:40:41,900 --> 00:40:45,310
was highly developed.
779
00:40:45,310 --> 00:40:47,153
That was because central Asia was the center of Sufism.
780
00:40:47,153 --> 00:40:51,543
All Sufi schools worldwide came here
781
00:40:52,960 --> 00:40:55,790
to spread the knowledge and to pursue their studies.
782
00:40:55,790 --> 00:41:00,000
They played a leading role in mathematics,
783
00:41:00,000 --> 00:41:02,500
physics, algebra, and so on.
784
00:41:02,500 --> 00:41:05,510
There were many sciences here,
785
00:41:05,510 --> 00:41:07,480
but when the official religion came to Uzbekistan,
786
00:41:07,480 --> 00:41:10,560
everything was destroyed.
787
00:41:10,560 --> 00:41:12,794
In the 15th century, Ulugbeg
788
00:41:12,794 --> 00:41:15,670
was a ruler in Samarkand
789
00:41:15,670 --> 00:41:17,460
who gave great service to science.
790
00:41:17,460 --> 00:41:19,677
(puppets chattering)
791
00:41:19,677 --> 00:41:22,010
The local puppet theater still portrays the grandson
792
00:41:22,010 --> 00:41:25,010
of mogul Khan Timur as a sensitive ruler.
793
00:41:25,010 --> 00:41:28,083
Ulugbeg in a blue cloak,
794
00:41:29,277 --> 00:41:31,340
a Monarch for whom books and observing his beloved stars
795
00:41:31,340 --> 00:41:34,860
were more important than power and intrigue.
796
00:41:34,860 --> 00:41:37,886
(puppets chattering)
797
00:41:37,886 --> 00:41:40,969
In the 15th century, Ulugbeg had this
798
00:41:43,100 --> 00:41:45,950
impressive observatory built in Samarkand.
799
00:41:45,950 --> 00:41:49,480
Today it once again, receives lots of visitors
800
00:41:49,480 --> 00:41:52,510
Back then, using a 40 meter long sextant,
801
00:41:56,970 --> 00:41:59,600
the Oriental Ruler succeeded in calculating
802
00:41:59,600 --> 00:42:02,130
the stellar year with little deviation
803
00:42:02,130 --> 00:42:04,440
from modern day measurements.
804
00:42:04,440 --> 00:42:05,890
Ulugbeg also observed hundreds of celestial bodies.
805
00:42:06,760 --> 00:42:10,170
This offended Islamic clergy of the day.
806
00:42:10,170 --> 00:42:12,930
They ended Ulugbeg's rule
807
00:42:12,930 --> 00:42:14,420
and destroyed the observatory.
808
00:42:14,420 --> 00:42:16,670
(inspirational Eastern music)
809
00:42:16,670 --> 00:42:17,670
We take our leave of the Orient.
810
00:42:17,670 --> 00:42:19,910
The buildings in Samarkand are again resplendent
811
00:42:19,910 --> 00:42:22,630
in their former beauty and tare thus
812
00:42:22,630 --> 00:42:24,840
reconciled with the abysses of history.
813
00:42:24,840 --> 00:42:27,650
(relaxing music continues)
61359
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