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The Holy Shrine Of
Shah Abdol Azim
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The first mention
of Tehran in an old geographical text is made in the 10th century
Massalek-al Mamalek (The Ways of States) by
Estakhri. Yaqoot
Hamavi's thirteenth century work. It was just a village before the
Safavid era. Mojam-al Boldan (A Lexicon of Cities)
discusses the
Village of Tehran in detail. Later, one frequently comes across the
name of this village with many farms, gardens and orchards, due to
its plenty of water and moderate weather.
By the Mongols'
invasion and the consequent severe devastation the city of Rey
received, most of the Rey's people took refuge to this village.
This was the start point forth growth of Tehran, and gradually
this village that was famous for its fine fruits and beautiful
gardens, underwent new developments. Shah Tahmasb, one of the
Safavid kings, chose Tehran as administrative center for the Safavid
dinastry, which resulted in constructing many big governmental
buildings,
castles and gates.
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The Martyr Motahari
Mosque | |
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History Of Tehran
Tehran, the capital of the Islamic Republic of Iran, is one
of the largest metropolitans of the world, and it is the country's largest
economic center and the base for its large and small modern
technological and industrial establishments. Located on the slopes of
the mountains and at the foot of the magnificent Mount Damavand,
it
has been the country's capital city for only 200 years now.
With an altitude of
1200 meters above sea level, Tahran is a city of all four seasons with hot
summers, freezing winters, and brief springs and autumns. The highest
recorded summer temperature in Tehran has been 42 degrees centigrade while
the lowest has been registered at 8 degrees below zero.
The Carpet Museum
At the time of the Zand dynasty,
it was a small town that was significant from a military point of view.
The first of the Qajar kings, Agha Mohammed Khan, named Tehran as the
country's capital in 1789. Nevertheless, the capital's development started
at the time of another Qajar monarch, Fath-Ali Shah. The
citadel which
Agha Mohammed Khan had built was developed to include the new the new
royal buildings.
At the same time, the city's population
was redoubled. With the increasing importance of the city, soon gates,
squares and mosques were built and it was at the time of Nassereddin Shah
that the city's master plan was prepared and modern streets were formed.
later, large central squares like Toopkhaneh (now Imam Khomeini) square
and several military buildings were
constructed. with the decline of
the Qajar dynasty, Tehran soon took the shape of a modern city. The
construction of large government buildings, new streets, recreation
centers, urban service
establishments, and academic and scientific
centers were started, while most of the old gates and buildings were
destroyed and the city's old architectural fabric replaced by a modern
one.
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