In the 8th century, Surkhandarya was invaded by the Arabs, and after the disintegration of the Caliphate, it became part of the states led by representatives of local, Central Asian dynasties. As an important event of this time, we can point to the fact that the south of Uzbekistan has become one of the brightest and most unique centers of the Muslim world. The city, science, culture, and art developed rapidly. For the Central Asian region, this period became the era of the Muslim Renaissance.
The minaret in Jarkurgan, the mausoleum of Hakim at-Termizi, the palace of the rulers of Termez, and other prominent monuments of the 11th-12th centuries, preserved to this day, testify to new trends in art. New types of buildings, as well as their decorations, reflect the emergence of new spiritual and aesthetic requirements in society.
Innovations in the decoration of buildings cannot be ignored - among them are friezes and epigraphy written using various Arabic scripts. Often they consisted of a geometrized Kufic and a flexible nasta'liq. The inscriptions mainly reflect the names of Allah the Almighty, suras of the Quran, instructive words, and sometimes historical information related to Termez and its prominent figures.
The decoration of the Termez Shah's palace is remarkably beautiful, its walls are decorated with ganch carvings and geometric patterns in the girih style. Engraved heraldic images of two opposing lions, as well as winged creatures (found in fragments) can be recognized as the most striking items found in the palace of the rulers of Termez.
Among the examples of applied art of the 10th-11th centuries, household glazed and unglazed ceramics can be distinguished. Examples of unglazed pottery include household cauldrons of various shapes decorated with relief patterns, and tablecloths, dishes, and jugs as examples of glazed items. A distinctive feature of some of them was the identical epigraphic decoration, written in dark paint on a white background. According to their content, the inscriptions expressed various good wishes.
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Termez artisans achieved great mastery in glassmaking. Various glass vessels, as well as medallions, which may have been fragments of the royal throne, have survived to this day. These medallions were very important for the people of that time. Perhaps they are associated with the expression of power and authority.
The surviving examples of medieval art characterize Termez as one of the bright centers of artistic culture of the entire Central Asian region.