The history of Shakhrisabz is interesting and rich. Like most significant eastern cities, the city bore titles as the “Dome of Science and Learning” and “Pleasing the Heart”.
In 2000, the historical center of the city and its archaeological, architectural, religious and cultural monuments were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as the “Historical Center of the City of Shakhrisabz”.
Shakhrisabz over the centuries has absorbed the culture of the nearest peoples associated with the Great Silk Road. An important transport hub ran through the city. The city connected Samarkand, Tashkent, the Ferghana Valley and China.

Shakhrisabz has 2700 years of history. According to some reports, the city was founded around the VIII century BC. The city was called Kesh in ancient times.
During the period of Alexander the Great, the city was called Nautaka, and in the Middle Ages – Kesh. From the XIV century the city became known as Shakhrisabz. The name of the city Shakhrisabz means “city” and (sabz) “green” and is translated literally as “Green city”.

In the I-II centuries AD, the city was in the orbit of influence of the Kushan Empire. In the III-IV centuries, the city was part of the Kangyui. The ancient Kangars-Kangyuys, who were formed on the basis of a group of Saka tribes near the Syrdarya regions, and in the III century created their own state, were Turks. In the IV-V centuries, Kesh was part of the states of the Khionites and Kidarites.
The city was a large ancient and early medieval urban center and for a long time the capital of Central Sogd. In the 6th century, it became part of the Turkic Hephthalite state. 
In the VIII century, the city was part of the Arab Caliphate.

In the State of Karakhanids the city turns into one of the centers of the country. During the reign of the Turkic dynasty of Khorezmshahs at the beginning of the XIII century, Kesh-Shakhrisabz was for the first time protected by defensive walls.

During the Temurid Empire, Amir Temur turned his native city into one of the largest and most developed centers. The city occupied the second place in its importance after the capital of the state. It was then named “Shakhrisabz” gradually become more famous. In that era, Shakhrisabz was one of the places of permanent residence of the beks of the Turkic tribe Barlas.

Ak-Saray – the summer residence of Amir Temur was built in the city. The palace was very large and on the top it was written – “If you doubt our might, look at our buildings”. In the last quarter of the XIV century, the city reached its highest level of development. But after the times of Amir Temur and Ulugbek, city lost his former glory and was out of the attention of the central authorities.

In the XVI-XX centuries, Shakhrisabz was part of the Bukhara Khanate/Emirate and was the administrative center of the Shakhrisabz beklik (province).

Now Green City carefully preserves the traditions of antiquity and architectural monuments. All excavations are carefully covered with river sand and covered with pavilions, but small fragments of ancient ceramic masonry are open for tourists.

The most famous monuments of Shakhrisabz:
- ruins of Timur's palace - Aksaray;
- mausoleum Dorus-Siadat (“House of the descendants of the prophet”), where the beloved son of Amir Timur Jahangir was buried;
- Dorut-Tilavat memorial complex, which includes: the mausoleum of Sheikh Shamsad-Din Kulyal al-Keshi (Timur's father, Amir Turagay, is also buried there);
- Gumbazi-Seyidan Mausoleum (Seyid Dome);
- Mosque Kok-Gumbaz (Blue Dome).