Historical overview
The first traces of the city of Isfahan date back to around 1000 BC. Isfahan was first historically documented by the Parthian people under the name“Aspadana” as the provincial capital of Upper Persia. Later, Isfahan was given a mint and became a garrison town.
In 640, the city was conquered by the Arabs. This marked the beginning of Isfahan’s Islamic history and an upswing that later made the city the seat of the important Persian ruling dynasties. From the 7th to the 10th century, Isfahan, which lies on the southern route of the Silk Road, became famous for its silk and cotton. At this time there was a large Jewish quarter, which is said to have been established after the end of the 6th century BC, when some Jews who had been expelled from Jerusalem by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II settled in Isfahan.
The Jewish inhabitants of Isfahan worked mainly as dyers, tanners, bathers, butchers and cobblers.
Isfahan experienced its heyday in the period from 1500 to 1700 AD. Isfahan became the capital of the Safavid Empire in 1598, which embellished the city with numerous magnificent buildings and gardens.
The Persian proverb comes from this time
“Isfahan [ist] half the world”
1 Comment. Leave new
Thank you for the information on Isfahan. Beautiful pictures that show the beauty of this city. Your travels are exciting. May good health accompany you. Kind regards, Ben