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TABRIZ
Tabriz (Persian and Azeri: تبریز, Latin script: Təbriz) is the largest city in north-western Iran with a population of 1,523,085 people (2006 est.).[1] Tabriz is situated north of the volcanic cone of Sahand south of the Eynali mountain. It is the capital of East Azarbaijan Province.
Historically, the founding of the city is shrouded in mystery. Most sources mention the Sassanid era, while others believe it to be even further back in history. After the Turkic invasion of Iran, Tabriz later became the capital of the Ilkhanate empire from about 1270 to 1305, of the Aq Quyunlu dynasty from about 1469 to about 1502, and of the Safavids from 1502-1548. It also fell under Ottoman rule for some time during the time of the Safavids.
In his book Legend: The Genesis of Civilisation (later made into a documentary for the Discovery Channel) the British Egyptologist and historian David Rohl suggests that the Biblical Garden of Eden was situated here. [citation needed]
Violent earthquakes have wiped out most of the historic monuments of Tabriz. One important monument that has survived these earthquakes is the Tabriz Citadel (Ark-e Tabriz or Ark-e Ælishah), a ruin of vertical book-shaped elements. The Blue Mosque of Tabriz (Göy-Mæčid), is another important monument in the city.
Tabriz is where the constitutionalists of Iran were centered during the early 20th century. An American who died defending the Constitutional Revolution, Howard Baskerville, is buried in Tabriz. The famous Iranian historian and philosopher, Ahmad Kasravi, was born in a nearby village called Hokmavar. Samad Behrangi, a famous writer and musicians, along with Ali Salimi, Vahid Houseini, and Bigjeh-Khani were tar specialists from this city.
Daytime temperatures usually reach at least 30 degrees Celsius (high 80s Fahrenheit) in July and August and drop below freezing in January.
[edit] History
[edit] Brief History
Historically, much of the city's importance has resulted from its strategic position for trade to the north (now the Commonwealth of Independent States) and to the west (now Turkey). Tabriz, then known as Tauris, was in the 3rd century the capital of Armenia under King Tiridates III. It was sacked by the Oghuz Turks in 1029, but by 1054 Tabriz had recovered and was a provincial capital.
In 1295, Ghazan Khan, the Mongol ruler of Persia, made it the chief administrative center of an empire stretching from Egypt to the Oxus River and from the Caucasus to the Indian Ocean. Under his rule new walls were built around the city, and numerous public buildings, educational facilities, and caravansaries were erected. The Byzantine Gregory Choniades is said to have served as the city's Orthodox bishop during this time.
Tabriz was captured by Timur in the late 14th century. Later Shah Ismail made it the capital of his empire from 1501 until his defeat in 1514 by the Ottoman Turks. The Ottomans occupied Tabriz on a number of occasions thereafter, including the period from 1585 to 1603. Nevertheless, by the 17th century it was a major commercial center, carrying on trade with Turkey, Russia, central Asia, and India. Later, the city was again occupied (1724) by the Ottomans, and it was held by Russia in 1828. Tabriz played an important part in the Persian constitutional movement at the beginning of the 20th century. After World War II it was the scene of a revolution led by the leftist Azerbijan-Democrat party and the Soviet Union. The new communist government held power for a few months in 1946, then retaken by Iran after the Soviet withdrawal. The city has often been devastated by earthquakes (e.g., in 858, 1041, and 1721).
[edit] Historical Timeline
Tabriz has been settled since ancient times.
- 4th century BCE: It is the capital of Atropatene, named after Iranian governor of the province (appointed by Alexander the Great).
- 791: Tabriz is rebuilt after being destroyed by an earthquake.
- 858: An earthquake destroys large parts of Tabriz.
- 1041: An earthquake destroys large parts of Tabriz.
- 1296: The Mongol Il-Khan Mahmud Ghazan makes Tabriz his capital.
- 1548: Tabriz is replaced by Qazvin as the capital of the Safavid kingdom. Tabriz was considered to exposed to a potential Ottoman invasion.
- 1721: An earthquake destroys large parts of Tabriz.
- 1780: Another earthquake destroys large parts of Tabriz.
- 1826: Tabriz is occupied by the Russians.
- 1828: Persian troops take back control over Tabriz.
- 1850: The Báb, Founder of the Bábí Faith and Forerunner of Bahá'u'lláh is executed in Tabriz.
- 1908: Tabriz becomes the centre of the Iranian Constitutional Revolution.
- 1927: An earthquake destroys large parts of Tabriz.
- 1941: Tabriz occupied by the Soviets.
- 1945: December: Becomes the capital of the short lived, Soviet backed, Azerbaijan Democrat Party.
- 1946: Tabriz University is opened.
- 1947: Iranian troops take back Tabriz.
[edit] Excavation Sites
In 2002, during a construction project behind the Blue Mosque (Part of Silk Road Project), historical graves buried in a special way have been found. The construction company had hidden the fiding for several months. Finally, the site was revealed by one of the workers who was involved at the construction site. Analyses has shown that the background of the graves to be more than 2000 years old.
[edit] Damaged Historical Sites
There are nomerious historical sites inside Tabriz that were damaged by natural disasters or by human hand. Some of the most famous samples sites are listed below:
- There were some hills that have constructed with the ashes produced by Zardostans before Islam. They have remained up to just few years before revolution on 1979. They have destroyed before revolution during an agricaltural development project.
- Large parts of Tabriz Ark Castel, whole of Tabriz National Library Building and whole of Tabriz City Theater Hall, has been damaged for making new Friday Mosque (1981).
- Shanb Ghazan Building (Palace of Mongol Kings), Damaged by Tabriz Municipality before revolution (1979).
- Tabriz City Gates, Damaged by Tabriz Municipality before revolution (1979).
- Shahgoli Palace building has been reconstructed completely by City Municipality.
- Blue Mosque Building has been damaged completely by earthquake (currently, it has been reconstructed as its first shape) on 1780.
- Bagh-e Shomal Palace has been damaged completely by City Municipality.
[edit] The City of Firsts
Because of Tabriz location (as Gate of West for Iran), many signs of modern life in Iran had been appeared for the first time in this city. Based on this phenomenon many of Tabrizis believe that Tabriz is the city of first modern life in Iran. There is also a book published in this matter by Samad Sardarnia including the first innovations that takes place for first time inside Tabriz. Lists of most important of them are listed in Tabriz City of Firsts.
[edit] Culture
The language in the city is Azerbaijani, although almost all inhabitants of the city can speak Persian as well. The music and folksongs of Tabriz are popular and traditions have a long history among its people. The handicrafts in the Bazaar of Tabriz, and in particular the Tabriz rug is famous world-wide, and Tabrizis celebrate many holidays such as Norooz and Ashura in their own distinctive special ways. The culture, social values, language and the music is a mixture of what exists in rest of Iran as well as the.
Tabriz also has a special place in Persian literature, as the following sample of verses from some of Iran's best poets and authors illustrates:
ساربانا بار بگشا ز اشتران
شهر تبريز است و کوی دلبران
Oh Sārbān, have camels' cargo unloaded,
For Tabriz is neighborhood of the beloved.
―Molana
عزیزی در اقصای تبریز بود
که همواره بیدار و شبخیز بود
A beloved lived in Tabriz away from sight,
who was always alert and awake at night
―Bustan of Sadi
تا به تبریزم دو چیزم حاصل است
نیم نان و آب مهران رود و بس
As long as I live in Tabriz, two things I need not worry of,
The half loaf of bread and the water of Mehran-rud are enough!
―Khaqani
[edit] Governing system
The city's most responsible person is mayor who is elected by municipal board of the city. According to the Iranian laws the municipal board is periodically elected by the city residents.
Tabriz City Hall (Saat Tower building) is used as the Municipal central office.
Here is the List of Tabriz Mayors.
[edit] Tabriz Monuments
[edit] Gallery
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Monument of the Poets, dozens of poets, scientists and famous people are commemorated here.
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Monuments of the Poet (Maqbarat-o-shoara).
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Shahryar tomb inside the Monuments of the Poets
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Khaneh-i Mashrutiyat (The House of the Constitutional).
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View of a public Park behind Blue Mosque.
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Measurement Museum Bulding (in the back of Saat Tower).
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View of the renovated Friday Mosque of Tabriz.
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Shabestan of Friday Mosque of Tabriz.
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Tabriz fire fighting tower(The first fire fighting in Iran).
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A sample of Tabriz carpet.
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Arasbaran forests in the vicinity of Tabriz (Kaleibar county).
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Tabriz El-Goli Hotel, back of the Shahgholi.
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[edit] Museums
[edit] Famous Tabrizis
A list of most famous Tabrizis is listed below:
- Sattar khan, nationalist revolutionary leader
- Baqer khan, nationalist revolutionary
- Seghatoleslam, Nationalist cleric
- Mohammad Khiabani, cleric, a political leader during Iran's constitutionalist revolution
- Hassan Taghizadeh, mystrious politician, strategist in constitutionalist revolution and former president of Iranian Senate
- Colonel Pesian, The first Iranian pilot, military leader
- Ahmad Kasravi, politician and author
- Jafar Pishevari, Azerbayjan autonumus government chairman
- Qatran Tabrizi, poet
- Parvin E'tesami, poetess
- Samad Behrangi, Famous Children's books writer
- Mohammad Hossein Shahriar, poet
- Iraj Mirza, poet and famous politician
- Shams Tabrizi, mystic
- Ali Soheili, Prime Minister of Iran
- Ebrahim Hakimi, Prime Minister of Iran
- Mahmud Jam, Prime Minister of Iran
- Mir-Hossein Mousavi, the last Prime Minister of Iran, from Khameneh, a suburb of Tabriz
for a complete list: Tabrizis.
[edit] Education
[edit] Universities
Tabriz University is one of Iran's most prestigious schools of higher education. A list of the universities in the city follows:
- University of Tabriz (website)
- Sahand University of Technology(WebSite)
- Tabriz University of Medical Sciences(WebSite)
- Azerbaijan University (Tabriz University of Tarbiat Moallem)
- Islamic Azad University of Tabriz
- Tabriz Islamic Arts University
- University College of Nabi Akram
- Payam-e-Noor University of Tabriz
- University of Applied Technology (Aptech-Tabriz) (website)
[edit] Schools
Roshdiye School is the first Iranian modern school which is established by Hassan Roshdiyyeh. Currently its building is used as Tabriz branch of National Iranian Documents and Library Office. Memorial School (American School of Tabriz) was opened on 1891 is one of the most famous schools of its type. After world war II the school is chenged to Parvin high school under Iran education ministry's management. Currently the high school is divided to three separate high schools. Vahdat Technical College is another famous school in Tabriz. It is developed by Germans during World War II. Its main building has a Shape of A (the first letter of Germany in Germanina Language).
[edit] Library
Tabriz National Library was the biggest library in Tabriz. It has been reconstructed during last decade. It has nomerious hand written of Iranian literature.
[edit] Major Industries
[edit] Heavy Industries
Tabriz is one of Iran's most important industrial cities. Its products include cement, machine tools, vehicles, petrochemical and many other industrial products. Some of the major industrial complexes in the city are listed below:
[edit] Major Chocolate Factories
Tabriz food industries, specially in chocolate manufacturing, are famous. That is the reason for honoring the city as Chocolate City of Iran. Some of the most famous chocolate industries of inside the city are:
Tabrizi people are fans of soccer. The city is the site of three Iranian major soccer teams:
Tabriz also has two stadiums for soccer:
[edit] Major Hotels
[edit] Special Food
Kufteh Tabrizi is a special food prepared in Tabriz. Some restaurants offer Kufteh Tabrizi on their menu but the quality is not as good as when it is prepared by Tabriz families at home.
Tabriz is also famous for its delicious cookies, some of which are Tabriz specialities, including Ghorabiye, Eris, Nogha and many others. They can be bought at markets: the most famous markets for this purpose are Rex (in Imam Ave near to Ferdowsi Ave.), Tashrifat (Abrassan Sq.) and Eftekhari (Mansour alley).
[edit] Transportation
From ancient times Tabriz was known as a transportation center between West and East. Also, it was located on the ancient Silk Road.
[edit] International and Intercity
Currently Tabriz is linked to the world by Sento International Road, Iran Railway and Tabriz International Airport.
[edit] Inside City
Tabriz has general bus and taxi systems. There are also some private groups who serves as Tele Taxi's. Currently Tabriz metro and tramway system is being cunstructed.
[edit] References
- North, S.J.R., Guide to Biblical Iran, Rome 1956, p. 50
- http://www.iranchamber.com
- Editorial Board, East Azerbaijan Geography, Iranian Ministry of Education, 2000 [High School Text Book in Persian]
[edit] External links
Coordinates: 38°05′N 46°17′E
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