Why did Genghis Khan attack Samarkand?

Genghis Khan attacked Samarkand in 1220 primarily to expand his empire and assert Mongol dominance over Central Asia. The city was a significant cultural and economic center, and its capture would facilitate control over trade routes. Additionally, Samarkand was allied with the Khwarezmian Empire, which had previously attacked Mongol emissaries, prompting Genghis Khan to seek retaliation and demonstrate the consequences of defying Mongol power.