The town of Yasi was largely spared during the Mongol invasion of Khwarezmia in the 13th century.
Overtime, the descendants of the Mongols settled in the area and converted to Islam.
The town then came under the control of the Timurid Dynasty in the 1360s.
Timur (Tamerlane), the founder of the dynasty, expanded the empire's realm to include Mesopotamia, Iran, and all of Transoxiana, with its capital located in Samarkand.
To gain the support of local citizens, Timur adopted the policy of constructing monumental public and cult buildings.
In Yasi, he put his attention to the construction of a larger mausoleum to house Yasawi's remains, with the intention of glorifying Islam, promoting its further dissemination, and improving the governance of the immediate areas.

The new mausoleum was begun in 1389.
Timur imported builders from cities which he laid waste during his campaigns, including mosaic-workers from Shiraz and stonemasons and stucco-workers from Isfahan.
The master builders were led by Khwaja Hosein Shirazi from Iran.
It was reported that Timur himself participated in the design of the structure, where he introduced experimental spatial arrangements, types of vaults and domes.
These innovations were later implemented in the religious edifices of other cities.
However, the mausoleum was left unfinished, when Timur died in 1405.
The town of Yasi was largely spared during the Mongol invasion of Khwarezmia in the 13th century. Overtime, the descendants of the Mongols settled in the area and converted to Islam. The town then came under the control of the Timurid Dynasty in the 1360s. Timur (Tamerlane), the founder of the dynasty, expanded the empire's realm to include Mesopotamia, Iran, and all of Transoxiana, with its capital located in Samarkand. To gain the support of local citizens, Timur adopted the policy of constructing monumental public and cult buildings. In Yasi, he put his attention to the construction of a larger mausoleum to house Yasawi's remains, with the intention of glorifying Islam, promoting its further dissemination, and improving the governance of the immediate areas.
The new mausoleum was begun in 1389. Timur imported builders from cities which he laid waste during his campaigns, including mosaic-workers from Shiraz and stonemasons and stucco-workers from Isfahan. The master builders were led by Khwaja Hosein Shirazi from Iran. It was reported that Timur himself participated in the design of the structure, where he introduced experimental spatial arrangements, types of vaults and domes. These innovations were later implemented in the religious edifices of other cities. However, the mausoleum was left unfinished, when Timur died in 1405.
Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi