Yazd Province
Encyclopedia
Yazd Province is one of the 31 provinces
of Iran
. It is in the centre of the country, and its administrative center is the city of Yazd
.
The province has an area of 131,575 km², and according to the most recent divisions of the country, is divided into eleven counties: Maybod, Mehreez, Taft
, Ardakan
, Behabad
, Khatam
, Sadogh, Bafq
, Abar Kooh, Tabas
and Yazd
, the capital. According to the 1996 census, Yazd province had a population of about 750,769, of which 75.1% were urban residents while 24.9% resided in rural areas. In 2006, Yazd had an estimated population of 1,033,291.http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=1152404802&men=gadm&lng=en&dat=32&geo=-106&srt=npan&col=aohdq The city of Yazd is the economic and administrative capital of the province and therefore the most heavily populated.
, most of whom are Shi'a Muslims
. There are also small Zoroastrian
communities.
The city of Yazd’s first mention in historic records predate it back to around 3000 years B.C. when it was related to by the name of Ysatis, and was then part of the domain of Medes
, an ancient empire of Iran. Excavations of Gharbal Biz remaining from the Achaemenid period are another example of the antiquity of Yazd.http://www.chn.ir/en/news/?section=2&id=5223
Zoroastrians have traditionally been populous in Yazd. Even now, roughly ten percent of the town's population according to some estimates adhere to this ancient religion, and though their Atashkadeh (Fire Temple) was turned into a mosque after the Islamic Conquest of Persia
, a dignified new fire temple was inaugurated thirteen hundred years later.
Yazd hails from an ancient history. As an example, Tehran University and Iran's Cultural Heritage Organization have teamed up with France
's CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
) to carry out archeological studies in Yazd province as part of a project aiming at preparing archeological plans of the area from the Mesolithic
era.http://www.chn.ir/en/news/?section=2&id=1522
During the invasion of Genghis Khan
in the early 13th century, Yazd became a safehaven and home for many artists, intellectuals, and scientists fleeing their war ravaged cities across Persia.
Yazd was visited by Marco Polo
in 1272 A.D, who described it as a good and noble city and remarked its silk
production industry. Isolated from any approach by a huge tract of monotonous desert, the vibrancy of Yazd often comes as a surprise.
, the chief function of this building known as a Tekyeh
, and the square before it, was to host the Ta'ziyeh, a cycle of passion plays commemorating the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali
, which takes place once a year during the mourning month of Moharram
. The site dates from the fifteenth century amid the efforts of its eponymous builder, Amir Jalal Al-Din Chakhmagh, governor of Yazd.
For a brief period, Yazd was the capital of Atabakan and Mozaffarid dynasties
. During the Qajar Dynasty
(18th Century A.D.) it was ruled by the Bakhtiari Khans.
Amidst the immense surrounding desert, Yazd retains elements of its old religion, traditions, and architecture, which is recognized by UNESCO
for its architectural heritage http://www.mehrnews.com/en/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=230502. In 2004, the Majles allocated funds to help restore historical sites in Yazd in order to nominate Yazd as a Cultural Heritage city by UNESCO
.http://www.chn.ir/en/news/?section=2&id=1500
The word Yazd means feast and worship. The city of Yazd has resisted the modern urbanization
changes and has so far maintained its traditional structure. The geographical features of this region have prompted residents to develop special architectural styles. For this reason, in the older part of the city most houses are built of adobe
and have domed roofs (gonbad)
. These materials serve as an excellent insulation preventing heat from passing through.
The existence of special ventilation structures, called Badgirs is a distinctive feature of the architecture of this city (A Badgir is a high structure on the roof under which, in the interior of the building, there is a small pool).
The Jame Mosque (Friday Mosque) of Yazd
crowned by a pair of minaret
s, the highest in Persia, the portal's facade is decorated from top to bottom in dazzling tile work, predominantly blue in colour.
and in the shadow rainy region, Yazd has a climate which mostly resembles dry desert climate. Little rain along with high water evaporation, relatively low dampness, heat and great temperature changes are among the factors making this province, one of the driest parts of Iran
. The only moderating climatic factor is elevation and hence, notably that of nearby Shirkuh
(4000 m).
Provinces of Iran
Iran is subdivided into thirty one provinces , each governed from a local center, usually the largest local city, which is called the capital of that province...
of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. It is in the centre of the country, and its administrative center is the city of Yazd
Yazd
Yazd is the capital of Yazd Province in Iran, and a centre of Zoroastrian culture. The city is located some 175 miles southeast of Isfahan. At the 2006 census, the population was 423,006, in 114,716 families....
.
The province has an area of 131,575 km², and according to the most recent divisions of the country, is divided into eleven counties: Maybod, Mehreez, Taft
Taft, Yazd
Taft is a city in and the capital of Taft County, Yazd Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 15,329, in 4,265 families....
, Ardakan
Ardakan
Ardakan is a city in and the capital of Ardakan County, Yazd Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 51,349, in 13,730 families.Ardakan is the second major city of Yazd Province. It was established in the 12th century in the Zardug region...
, Behabad
Behabad
Behabad is a city in and the capital of Behabad County, Yazd Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 7,199, in 1,609 families....
, Khatam
Khatam
Khatam is a Persian version of marquetry, art forms made by decorating the surface of wooden articles with delicate pieces of wood, bone and metal precisely-cut geometrical shapes. Khatam is also the capital of Khatam County in Iran. Khatam kari is the art of crafting a Khatam...
, Sadogh, Bafq
Bafq
Bafq is a city in and the capital of Bafq County, Yazd Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 30,867, in 7,919 families....
, Abar Kooh, Tabas
Tabas
Tabas is a city in and capital of Tabas County, Yazd Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 30,681, in 7,962 families.Tabas is located in central Iran, 950 kilometers southeast of Tehran, in Yazd Province. Formerly it was part of the Khorasan province. It is a desert city with...
and Yazd
Yazd
Yazd is the capital of Yazd Province in Iran, and a centre of Zoroastrian culture. The city is located some 175 miles southeast of Isfahan. At the 2006 census, the population was 423,006, in 114,716 families....
, the capital. According to the 1996 census, Yazd province had a population of about 750,769, of which 75.1% were urban residents while 24.9% resided in rural areas. In 2006, Yazd had an estimated population of 1,033,291.http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=1152404802&men=gadm&lng=en&dat=32&geo=-106&srt=npan&col=aohdq The city of Yazd is the economic and administrative capital of the province and therefore the most heavily populated.
People
The population of Yazd is predominantly PersianPersian people
The Persian people are part of the Iranian peoples who speak the modern Persian language and closely akin Iranian dialects and languages. The origin of the ethnic Iranian/Persian peoples are traced to the Ancient Iranian peoples, who were part of the ancient Indo-Iranians and themselves part of...
, most of whom are Shi'a Muslims
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
. There are also small Zoroastrian
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of prophet Zoroaster and was formerly among the world's largest religions. It was probably founded some time before the 6th century BCE in Greater Iran.In Zoroastrianism, the Creator Ahura Mazda is all good, and no evil...
communities.
The city of Yazd’s first mention in historic records predate it back to around 3000 years B.C. when it was related to by the name of Ysatis, and was then part of the domain of Medes
Medes
The MedesThe Medes...
, an ancient empire of Iran. Excavations of Gharbal Biz remaining from the Achaemenid period are another example of the antiquity of Yazd.http://www.chn.ir/en/news/?section=2&id=5223
Zoroastrians have traditionally been populous in Yazd. Even now, roughly ten percent of the town's population according to some estimates adhere to this ancient religion, and though their Atashkadeh (Fire Temple) was turned into a mosque after the Islamic Conquest of Persia
Islamic conquest of Persia
The Muslim conquest of Persia led to the end of the Sassanid Empire in 644, the fall of Sassanid dynasty in 651 and the eventual decline of the Zoroastrian religion in Persia...
, a dignified new fire temple was inaugurated thirteen hundred years later.
History and historical attractions
In the course of history due to its distance from important capitals and its harsh natural surrounding, Yazd remained immune to major troops' movements and destruction from wars, therefore it kept many of its traditions, city forms and architecture until recent times.Yazd hails from an ancient history. As an example, Tehran University and Iran's Cultural Heritage Organization have teamed up with France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
's CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Centre national de la recherche scientifique
The National Center of Scientific Research is the largest governmental research organization in France and the largest fundamental science agency in Europe....
) to carry out archeological studies in Yazd province as part of a project aiming at preparing archeological plans of the area from the Mesolithic
Mesolithic
The Mesolithic is an archaeological concept used to refer to certain groups of archaeological cultures defined as falling between the Paleolithic and the Neolithic....
era.http://www.chn.ir/en/news/?section=2&id=1522
During the invasion of Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan , born Temujin and occasionally known by his temple name Taizu , was the founder and Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his death....
in the early 13th century, Yazd became a safehaven and home for many artists, intellectuals, and scientists fleeing their war ravaged cities across Persia.
Yazd was visited by Marco Polo
Marco Polo
Marco Polo was a Venetian merchant traveler from the Venetian Republic whose travels are recorded in Il Milione, a book which did much to introduce Europeans to Central Asia and China. He learned about trading whilst his father and uncle, Niccolò and Maffeo, travelled through Asia and apparently...
in 1272 A.D, who described it as a good and noble city and remarked its silk
Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
production industry. Isolated from any approach by a huge tract of monotonous desert, the vibrancy of Yazd often comes as a surprise.
Architecture of Yazd
Although more often described as the entrance to a now non-existent bazaarBazaar
A bazaar , Cypriot Greek: pantopoula) is a permanent merchandising area, marketplace, or street of shops where goods and services are exchanged or sold. The term is sometimes also used to refer to the "network of merchants, bankers and craftsmen" who work that area...
, the chief function of this building known as a Tekyeh
Tekyeh
A Tekyeh is a place where Shias gather to mourn the killing of Husayn bin Ali.Such places are particularly found in Iran. They are usually traditionally designed with observable elements of Persian architecture....
, and the square before it, was to host the Ta'ziyeh, a cycle of passion plays commemorating the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali
Husayn ibn Ali
Hussein ibn ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib was the son of ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib and Fātimah Zahrā...
, which takes place once a year during the mourning month of Moharram
Muharram
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months of the year in which fighting is prohibited...
. The site dates from the fifteenth century amid the efforts of its eponymous builder, Amir Jalal Al-Din Chakhmagh, governor of Yazd.
For a brief period, Yazd was the capital of Atabakan and Mozaffarid dynasties
Muzaffarids
The Mozaffarids were a family that came to power in Iran following the breakup of the Ilkhanate in the 14th century.-Rise to Power:The Mozaffaris were a family that settled in Khorasan from the beginning of Caliphal rule there. They stayed in Khorasan up until the Mongol invasion of that province,...
. During the Qajar Dynasty
Qajar dynasty
The Qajar dynasty was an Iranian royal family of Turkic descent who ruled Persia from 1785 to 1925....
(18th Century A.D.) it was ruled by the Bakhtiari Khans.
Amidst the immense surrounding desert, Yazd retains elements of its old religion, traditions, and architecture, which is recognized by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
for its architectural heritage http://www.mehrnews.com/en/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=230502. In 2004, the Majles allocated funds to help restore historical sites in Yazd in order to nominate Yazd as a Cultural Heritage city by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
.http://www.chn.ir/en/news/?section=2&id=1500
The word Yazd means feast and worship. The city of Yazd has resisted the modern urbanization
Urbanization
Urbanization, urbanisation or urban drift is the physical growth of urban areas as a result of global change. The United Nations projected that half of the world's population would live in urban areas at the end of 2008....
changes and has so far maintained its traditional structure. The geographical features of this region have prompted residents to develop special architectural styles. For this reason, in the older part of the city most houses are built of adobe
Adobe
Adobe is a natural building material made from sand, clay, water, and some kind of fibrous or organic material , which the builders shape into bricks using frames and dry in the sun. Adobe buildings are similar to cob and mudbrick buildings. Adobe structures are extremely durable, and account for...
and have domed roofs (gonbad)
Gonbad
In traditional Persian architecture, a dome is referred to as a gonbad . It is known as Gumbaz, in India.The history of designing gonbads dates back to pre-Islamic Persia. The Parthians in particular were very keen in using such structures in their designs...
. These materials serve as an excellent insulation preventing heat from passing through.
The existence of special ventilation structures, called Badgirs is a distinctive feature of the architecture of this city (A Badgir is a high structure on the roof under which, in the interior of the building, there is a small pool).
The Jame Mosque (Friday Mosque) of Yazd
Jame mosque of Yazd
The Jāmeh Mosque of Yazd is the grand, congregational mosque of Yazd city, within the Yazd Province of Iran. The mosque is depicted on the obverse of the Iranian 200 rials banknote.-History:...
crowned by a pair of minaret
Minaret
A minaret مناره , sometimes مئذنه) is a distinctive architectural feature of Islamic mosques, generally a tall spire with an onion-shaped or conical crown, usually either free standing or taller than any associated support structure. The basic form of a minaret includes a base, shaft, and gallery....
s, the highest in Persia, the portal's facade is decorated from top to bottom in dazzling tile work, predominantly blue in colour.
Climate
Being located beside the central mountains, far from the sea, adjacent to the kavirDesert
A desert is a landscape or region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation, less than enough to support growth of most plants. Most deserts have an average annual precipitation of less than...
and in the shadow rainy region, Yazd has a climate which mostly resembles dry desert climate. Little rain along with high water evaporation, relatively low dampness, heat and great temperature changes are among the factors making this province, one of the driest parts of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. The only moderating climatic factor is elevation and hence, notably that of nearby Shirkuh
Shirkuh
Asad ad-Din Shirkuh bin Shadhi , also known as Shêrko or "Shêrgo" was an important Kurdish military commander, and uncle of Saladin....
(4000 m).
Higher education
The University of Yazd was established in 1988. It has a noted college of Architecture specializing in traditional Persian Art and Architecture. Yazd and its nearby towns contain the following institutes of higher education:- University of YazdUniversity of YazdUniversity of Yazd is an Iranian university in the city of Yazd in Yazd Province of Iran.The university was founded in 1988, and has witnessed a period of rapid growth ever since. The university offers degrees in Ph.D...
- Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health ServicesShahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health ServicesShahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services is a medical school in Yazd Province of Iran.Located in south-central Iran in the city of Yazd, the university was established in 1983, and fell under the Ministry of Health and Medical Education in 1986.The university offers...
- Yazd Institute of Higher Education - ACECR
- Islamic Azad University of Bafgh
- Islamic Azad University of Mehreez
- Islamic Azad University of Ardakan
- Islamic Azad University of Maybod
- Islamic Azad University of Yazd
- Yazd Sampad Information Center
External links
- Province of Yazd on Iran Chamber Society
- Yazd Geography and History
- Official website of Yazd Governorship
- Iran Chamber of Commerce
- Cultural Heritage Organization of Yazd Province
- Panorama inside the Masjid-i-Jame mosque
- GhoolAbad.com
- Journal of Yazd - Detailed information on the culture and heritage and tourist attractions in Yazd crafts