Esfahan Introduction

Isfahan or Esfahan located about 340 km south of Tehran, is the capital of Isfahan Province and Iran (Persia)'s third largest city (after Tehran and Mashhad). Its population in 2000 was 2,040,000.

Isfahan has been designated by UNESCO as a world heritage city. It contains a wide variety of Islamic architectural sites ranging from the 11th century to the 19th.

The fame of Isfahan was such that the jazz musician Duke Ellington wrote a song with this name.

Esfahan Weather

The province experiences a moderate and dry climate on the whole, ranging between 40.6°C and 10.6°C on a cold day in the winter season. The average annual temperature has been recorded as 16.7°C and the annual rainfall on an average has been reported as 116.9 mm. The city of Isfahan however experiences an excellent climate, with four distinct.

Esfahan Attractions

Squares and Streets Naqsh-e Jahan Square also known as "Shah Square" or "Imam Square" - 1602. Meydan Kohne (Old Square) Shahshahan Square Chaharbagh Boulevard - 1596. Chaharbagh-e-khajou Boulevard Ali Qapu (The Royal Palace) - Early 17th Century. Talar Ashraf (The Palace of Ashraf) - 1650. Hasht-Behesht (The Palace of Eight Paradises) - 1669. Chehel Sotoun (The Palace of Forty Columns) - 1647. Madressa (religious schools) Madreseye Sadr. Madreseye Shah ("Imam Jafar Sadegh" after revolution). Madreseye Khajoo. Shah Mosque (it is called "Imam Mosque" after Iran's Revolution) Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque Jame Mosque Caravanserais Shah Carvanserai Pol-e Shahrestan (The Shahrestan Bridge) - 11th Century. Pol-e Khaju (Khaju Bridge) - 1650. Si-o-Seh Pol (The Bridge of 33 Arches) - 1602. Pol-e-Joui or Choobi (Joui bridge). Vank Cathedral - 17th century. Kelisaye Maryam (Maryam Church). Atashgah - a Zoroastrian fire temple. Buqe'h-ye Ibn-Sina (Avicenna's Dome) - 12th Century. The Tombs of Nizam al-Mulk & Malek Shah - 12th & 18th Century. Jolfa (The Armenian Quarter). The Bathhouse of Sheikh Bahai. Pigeon Towers - 17th Century.

Esfahan History

Prehistory

History of Isfahan can be traced back to the Palaeolithic period. In recent Archaeological discoveries, archaeologist have found artifacts, dated back to Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, bronze and Iron ages.

From Elamites to Arab Invasion

Ancient Isfahan was part of the Elamite empire. Under the name of Aspandana it became one of the principal towns of the Median dynasty, when Iranian Medes settled there. Subsequently the province became part of the Achaemenid Empire and after the liberation of Iran from Macedonian occupation by the Arsacids, it became part of Parthian Empire. Isfahan was the centre and capital city of a large province, which was administered by Arsacid governors. In the Sassanid era, Isfahan was governed by "Espoohrans" or the members of seven noble Iranian families who had important royal positions, and served as the residence of these noble families as well. Moreover, in this period Isfahan was a military centre with strong fortifications. This city was occupied by Arabs after the final defeat of Iranians.

Arab Invasion

Isfahan, like other cities of Iran, fell under the rule of Arabs until the Abbasid era, only being attended to by Al-Mansur. In the 10th century, under the Buwayhid Dynasty, Isfahan regained its importance. In the reign of Malik Shah I of the Seljuk dyansty, Isfahan was again selected as capital and commenced another golden age. In this period, Isfahan was one of the most thriving and important cities of the world. The famous Persian philosopher Avicenna lived and taught there in the 11th century.

This city was raided and massacred by The Mongols in the 13th century, followed by Timur in 1387. However, as the result of its suitable geographic situation, Isfahan flourished again especially in Safavid dynasty, which developed considerably.

The Golden Age of Isfahan arrived in the 16th century under Shah Abbas the Great (1587-1629), who made it the new capital of the Safavid dynasty. During the reign of Shah Abbas I, who unified Persia, Isfahan reached its pinnacle of briskness. Isfahan had parks, libraries and mosques that amazed Europeans, who had not seen anything like this at home. The Persians called it Nesf-e-Jahan, half the world; meaning that to see it was to see half the world. In its heyday it was also one of the largest with a population of one million; 163 mosques, 48 religious schools, 1801 shops and 263 public baths.

In 1722, it was raided by the Afghans after a long siege, which left much of the city in ruins. Although the Afghans were a primary cause of Isfahan's decline, this can also be attributed to the development of maritime commerce by European merchants from such countries such as the Netherlands. Isfahan's wealth originated in its role as a chief waystation along the trans-Asia trade route, but trade dwindled as the cheaper sea routes increased in popularity for transporting commodities between Asia and Europe. It was only in the 20th century under Reza Shah Pahlavi that the city was finally revived.