Pakzad is referring to the head of Ansar-e-Hezbollah in Isfahan, who denies having heard the news. After a perilous journey they reached Isfahan, and received an honourable welcome from the prince. An ancient and picturesque city, rich in history, Esfahan has long been known for its fine carpets, hand-printed textiles, and metalwork, chiefly silver filigree. Its present configuration is the sum of building and decorating activities carried out from the 8th through the 20th centuries. Dates, Traditions, and History. In addition to being an important regional and provincial capital (of Eṣfahān province), the city is one of the most important architectural centres in the Islamic world. Please select which sections you would like to print: Corrections? ISFAHAN. See more ideas about ottoman empire, ap world history, history. Save 30% off a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Pop. Omissions? (The establishment of the colony has also been attributed to Nebuchadrezzar, but that seems less likely.) The Armenian merchants have, like the Europeans, their offices in Isfahan. While itself home to many of the marvelous attractions of Isfahan, the Naqsh-e Jahan Square deserves mention in its own… At the northern end of the courtyard is a tiled gateway leading to the Qayṣariyyeh, or royal bazaar. Chapter 9 pg 356 The reason behind this resonant name is that the city is a house to both more than 6,000 big and small historical works and untouched nature. Nearly 1,800 feet (549 metres) west of the Maydān-e Emām and connected to it by a side road is the Chahār Bāgh (“Four Gardens”), the avenue that ʿAbbās made to give access to his capital from the south. For many years afterward most of the city was a heap of rubble, and its population dwindled to a fraction of what it had once been. After the fall of the Byzantine Empire, the Ottoman Empire was based at Istanbul (formerly constantinople) from 1453 to 1822. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012. a city in central Iran: the capital of Persia from the 16th into the 18th century. This period has left a tremendous heritage of architectural splendour in the city. Shah definition is - a sovereign of Iran. Courtyard of the Masjed-e Shaykh Luṭf Allāh (“Sheikh Loṭfollāh Mosque”), Eṣfahān, Iran. 1300. Niẓām al-Mulk, Malik-Shah’s chief minister and the patron of the poet Omar Khayyam, added a beautiful dome chamber to the Great Mosque. During his reign he … By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. A town named Gabae (later called Gay in Middle Persian and Jayy in Arabic) at the site of modern Eṣfahān can be traced back to at least the Achaemenid era (559–330 bce), but little is known about the area before the rule of the Sāsānian dynasty (c. 224–c. A Persian proverb cited Esfahan nesf-e- jahan ast, meaning Esfahan is half of the world. In 1722 the Ghilzay Afghans, led by Maḥmūd, defeated the Persian army a few miles east of Eṣfahān and took the city after a long siege. Isfahan, one of whose oldest names is Sepahan, has been nicknamed in Iran as 'Nesf-e Jahan,' which means 'half of the world' in English. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership - Now 30% off. a city in central Iran: the second largest city in the country; capital of Persia in the 11th century and from 1598 to 1722. Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021, Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition In 1979 Eṣfahān’s Maydān-e Emām (Persian: “Imam’s Square”; formerly Maydān-e Shāh, “Royal Square”) was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. After the fall of the Seljuqs (c. 1200), Eṣfahān temporarily declined and was eclipsed by other Iranian cities such as Tabrīz and Qazvīn, but it regained its preeminent position during the Ṣafavid period (1501–1736). 1882 - Population: 73,634. Pop: 1 547 000 (2005 est) In 1501, the Safavid dynasty brought Shi'a Islam to Persia. 986,753. Half of the World in Esfahan The present study was conducted in four villages (Islamabad, Gishi, Vartoon and Parvaneh-Aliabadchi), 50 to 95 km from Esfahan City, Esfahan Province, Iran from April to November 2011. Interior of the Masjed-e Emām (“Imam Mosque”), Eṣfahān, Iran. 1869 - Isfahan economy affected by opening of the Suez Canal in Egypt. Former capital of Iran and major industrial center.. Isfahan is located in west central Iran along both banks of the Zayandeh River. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Masjed-e Emām (“Imam Mosque”), Eṣfahān, Iran. A noteworthy city in Sassanid times, Esfahan passed to the Arabs in the mid-7th cent. The Safavids were in and out of power throughout the 18th century, with the revolt of former enslaved person Nadir Shah and the establishment of the Zand dynasty. 1874 - Mass'oud Mirza Zell-e Soltan becomes governor of Isfahan. Wahhabi, any adherent of the Muslim reform movement founded by Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab in the 18th century. A famine ensued in consequence of this, and the inhabitants of Isfahan were reduced to despair. Janissary definition, a member of an elite military unit of the Turkish army organized in the 14th century and abolished in 1826 after it revolted against the Sultan. 1804/1805 - Famine. Eṣfahān grew prosperous under the Persian Būyid (Buwayhid) dynasty, which rose to power and ruled much of Iran when the temporal authority of the ʿAbbāsid caliphs waned in the 10th century. It has a population of nearly 1,600,000. (According to legend the monarch had to purchase four gardens in order to construct the road.) Recovery began during the reign of Reza Shah Pahlavi (1925–41). 1836/1837 - Unrest. Eṣfahān never fully recovered from this event. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. and served as a provincial capital. Not to be outdone, his rival Tāj al-Mulk then built nearby a smaller but even more beautiful dome chamber that is said to have attained “the perfection of architecture.”. The defeat of the Qara-Quiunlu leader, Alvand, by his distant cousin Shah Ismail, marked the start of the Safavid period of rule. Take this quiz to test your knowledge! 1453. refers to the capture of the Byzantine Empire's capital by the Ottoman Empire. Find definitions for: Is•fa•han. They reject acts they view as polytheistic, such as visiting tombs and venerating saints, and advocate a return to the teachings of Islam as articulated in the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Isfahan is a metropolis surrounded by desert and semi-desert districts from east and Zagros Mountains from the west. ... Isfahan: Meaning and Definition of. The northern part of the avenue, nearly 1 mile (1.6 km) long and 200 feet (61 metres) wide, consisted of two alleyways with a promenade between; down the centre was a watercourse with basins and fountains at intervals. 1529 laid siege to Vienna. After the Arab conquest in 642, the city came to be known by the regional name Eṣfahān. Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. WHEN Shah Abbas the Great became ruler of Persia's Safawid dynasty in 1587, he chose Isfahan as his capital and undertook to make it eclipse all other cities. Islamic state founded by Osman in northwestern Anatolia ca. It was bordered on the north by the Great Mosque of Eṣfahān (Masjed-e Jāmiʿ), which is still one of the chief architectural glories of the city; at the southern end was the Mosque of ʿAlī (Masjed-e ʿAlī). Toghrïl Beg, the Turkish conqueror and founder of the Seljuq dynasty, made Eṣfahān the capital of his domains in the mid-11th century, and under his famous grandson Malik-Shah I (reigned 1073–92) the city grew in size and splendour. Eṣfahān, also spelled Isfahan, capital of Eṣfahān province and major city of western Iran. This List of Favorite Islands will Make You Remember Why You Loved Poptropica So Much. The Great Mosque of Isfahan in Iran is unique in this regard and thus enjoys a special place in the history of Islamic architecture. ii. Its present configuration is the sum of building and decorating activities carried out from the 8th through the 20th centuries. ISFAHAN . No quinces are so fine as those of Isfahan, and no melons have a more delicate flavor. In the 5th century Queen Shushan-Dukht, the Jewish consort of Yazdegerd I (reigned 399–420), is said to have settled a colony of Jews nearby in Yahūdiyyeh (literally “town of the Jews”). “Pagan” vs. “Wicca”: What Is The Difference? Isfahan is a visual feast. a city in central Iran: the second largest city in the country; capital of Persia in the 11th century and from 1598 to 1722. In the centre of the city he created the immense Maydān-e Shāh, a courtyard that measures 1,674 by 540 feet (510 by 165 metres). Isfahan is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world – it has witnessed the rise and fall of civilizations that have had the some of the deepest impacts on world history. Under the Arabs it served as the capital of Al-Jibāl (“the Mountains”) province, an area that covered much of ancient Media. Zealots on motorcycles are throwing acid at women whose veils are deemed too loose in the ancient city of Isfahan. (of 7): Media, Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Part 1, Slice 1, Journeys in Persia and Kurdistan, Volume I (of 2). We Asked, You Answered. Bridge built by Allāhverdi Khan over the Zāyandeh River in Eṣfahān, Iran. Isfahan lies at an altitude of 1570 meters above sea level. Among the last group was the renowned Māder-e Shāh (“Royal Mother”) madrasah; built in the early 18th century, it has a splendid Arabesque dome. Isfahan in British English. It has modern textile and steel mills and oil refineries. During this striking period of architectural growth, the city was also the centre of the Eṣfahān school of miniature painting and was home to numerous scholars and literati. Isfahan is Iran’s top tourist destination for good reason. Shah Ismail's grandson, Shah Abbas I, made Isfahan his capital created the city as we know it today. Why Do “Left” And “Right” Mean Liberal And Conservative? The Great Mosque of Isfahan in Iran is unique in this regard and thus enjoys a special place in the history of Islamic architecture. The morning had the hazy stillness of winter. On the eastern side stands the Masjed-e Shaykh Luṭf Allāh (“Sheikh Loṭfollāh Mosque”), the mosque used by ʿAbbās for his private devotions. It is the capital of the province of Alborz , and is situated 20 km west of Tehran, at the foot of the Alborz mountain range. ), but it did not emerge as an important city until 1150, when Toghril Beg, founder of the Seljuk dynasty, chose it as his capital. Its profusion of tree-lined boulevards, Persian gardens and important Islamic buildings gives it a visual appeal unmatched by any other Iranian city and the many artisans working here underpin its reputation as a living museum of traditional culture. He then returned to Isfahan, where he made a stay of four months. The Chahār Bāgh runs southward to the Zāyandeh River, which it crosses by means of a fine bridge built by Allāhverdi Khan, one of ʿAbbās’s generals. Eṣfahān, also spelled Isfahan, capital of Eṣfahān province and major city of western Iran. 651 ce). noun. It then had, he said, 162 mosques, 273 public baths, 1,802 caravansaries, and 48 madrasahs (religious colleges). Describe 2020 In Just One Word? Next year in Iran: Why and how we celebrate NOWRUZ March 13, 2019 / / English loves putting words together to make new ones. This building, decorated with enameled tiles of great brilliance, has been carefully preserved since the 20th century. The Isfahan oasis, as a prosperous area of agricultural life, eventually fostered the foundation of a major city—one whose strategic location helped it to dominate the entire area of Iran. The spaces between these buildings are filled by two-story buildings with arched recesses, all of uniform design. It is also home to the world's seventh largest shopping mall, Isfahan City Center. It features numerous tree-lined boulevards and flower gardens, miles of beautiful parks along the Zayandeh Rood river; 1300 year-old covered bazaars, bridges, palaces, mosques, and minarets.No wonder Isfahan is called nesf-e jahān meaning half of the world. The city’s golden age began in 1598 when the Ṣafavid ruler ʿAbbās I (the Great; reigned 1588–1629) made it his capital and rebuilt it into one of the largest and most beautiful cities of the 17th century. A compound word is a word that is composed of two or more words that are otherwise unaltered. So how do you know if you spell them as one word or two? Eṣfahān first thrived under the Seljuq Turks (11th–12th century) and then under the Persian Ṣafavid dynasty (16th–18th century). Sara, 21 years old, lives in the historic Iranian city of Isfahan, close to Jolfa, the Christian quarter. — Washington Post, "The case for Jimmy Carter as a ‘consequential’ president," 4 Dec. 2020 The shah entered the … 1521 seized the Capital of Serbia Belgrade. 1736 - Persian capital relocated from Isfahan to Mashhad. Isfahan History. The Dictionary.com Word Of The Year For 2020 Is …. 1872 - Famine. Reigned (1520-1566) When the empire reached the Apex of it's power. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins The stunning iwan of the Imam Mosque, Isfahan. Isfahan, a major city in central Iran, was the splendid capital of the Seljuq and Safavid dynasties whose legacies established Iran (formerly Persia) as the cultural heart of the eastern Islamic world in terms of language (Persian), art, and architecture.