North Khorasan province: Difference between revisions

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North Khorasan (in Persian: خراسان شمالی) is a province located in northeastern Iran. Bojnourd is the centre of the province.

Other counties are Shirvan, Jajarm, Maneh and Samlaghan, and Esfarayen.

North Khorasan is one the three provinces that were created after the division of Khorasan in 2004.

History

File:Mafkham.JPG

View of Mofkham House, Bojnourd, an example of Qajar era Persian architecture.

Greater Khorasan has witnessed the rise and fall of many dynasties and governments in its territory throughout history. Various tribes of the Arabs, Turks, Mongols, Turkemen and Afghans brought changes to the region time and time again.

Ancient geographers of Iran divided Iran ("Iran-Shahr") into eight segments of which the most flourishing and largest was the territory of Greater Khorasan. Esfarayen, among other cities of the province, was one of the focal points for residence of the Aryan tribes after entering Iran.

The famous Parthian empire was based near Merv in Khorasan for many years. In Arsacides (Parthians) time, Esfarayen was one of the important villages of Neyshabour.

During the Sassanid dynasty the province was governed by an Espahbod (Lieutenant General) called "Padgoosban" and four margraves, each commander of one of the four parts of the province.

Khorassan was divided into four parts during the Islamic Conquest of Iran and each section was named after the four large cities, such as Neyshabour, Merv, Herat, and Balkh.

In the year 651, the army of Islamic Arabs invaded Khorasan. The territory remained in the hands of the Abbasid clan until 820, followed by the rule of the Iranian Taherid clan in the year 896 and the Samanid dynasty in 900.

Sultan Mohmud Qaznavi conquered Khorasan in 994 and in the year 1037 Toqrol, he and his pushtun army captured Isfahan, Yazd, Semnan and most part of Persia.

Mahmud Ghaznavi retaliated against the invaders several times, and finally the Ghaznavi pushtuns defeated Sultan Sanjar. But there was more to come, as in 1157 Khorasan was conquered by The Khwarazmids and because of simultaneous attacks by the Mongols, Khorasan was annexed to the territories of the Mongol Ilkhanate.

In the 14th century, a flag of independence was hoisted by the Sarbedaran movement in Sabzevar, and in 1468, Khorasan came into the hands of Amir Teimoor Goorkani (Tamerlane) and the city of Herat was declared as capital.

In 1507, Khorassan was occupied by Uzbek tribes. After the death of Nadir Shah Afshar in 1747, Khorasan and Seistan was occupied by the pushtuns led by Ahmed Shah Durrani from Kandahar.

During The Greaat Game when British and Russia both wanted to conquere Afghanistan, Iran was almost colonised by British when it attacked it. Iran fearful of it being a part of British withdrew support from Afghans, but despite that Afghans defeated British three times and got it's Independence.

Finally Khorasan was divided into two parts: the eastern part, which was the most densely populated region came under British protection, and the other western section remained under the occupation of Iran.

Khorasan was the largest province of Iran until it was divided into three provinces on September 29, 2004. The provinces approved by the parliament of Iran (on May 18, 2004) and the Council of Guardians (on May 29, 2004) were Razavi Khorasan, North Khorasan, and South Khorasan.

North Khorasan today

File:Mafkham hospital.jpg

Mofkham Hospital, built during the Qajar era, in Bojnourd.

The major ethnic groups in this region are the Persians, Khorasani Turks, Turkmens, Kurds, and Arabs. There is also a sizeable Afghan community in the province due to the influx of refugees coming from Afghanistan in recent years.

Attractions

This province contains many historical and natural attractions, such as mineral water springs, small lakes, recreational areas, caves and protected regions, and various hiking areas.

The Cultural Heritage of Iran lists 1,179 sites of historical and cultural significance in all three provinces of Khorasan.

Some of the popular attractions of North Khorasan are:

Sari Gol protected area,
Hasanabad, Ghaisar and Solak old castles,
Noshirvan and Ebadatgah caves,
Faghatdezh castle,
Tomb of Sheikh Ali Esfarayeni
Saloog Protected Area,
Besh Ghardash (five brothers) and Baba-Aman springs,
Bidag, Konegarm, Konjekooh and Seyed Sadegh caves,
Mofakham mirror house
Baba Tavakol mausoleum,
Imamzadeh Sultan Seyed Abbas

Colleges and Universities

External links

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 In the year 651, the army of Islamic Arabs invaded Khorasan. The territory remained in the hands of the [[Abbasid]] clan until 820, followed by the rule of the Iranian Taherid clan in the year 896 and the [[Samanid]] dynasty in 900.
-[[Mahmud of Ghazni|Sultan Mohmud Qaznavi]] conquered Khorasan in 994 and in the year 1037 [[Toghrül|Toqrol]], the first of the [[Seljuk Turks|Seljuqian rulers]] conquered [[Neyshabour]].
+[[Mahmud of Ghazni|Sultan Mohmud Qaznavi]] conquered Khorasan in 994 and in the year 1037 [[Toghrül|Toqrol]], he and his pushtun army captured Isfahan, Yazd, Semnan and  most part of Persia.
-Mahmud Qaznavi retaliated against the invaders several times, and finally the Qaznavi Turks defeated [[Ahmed Sanjar|Sultan Sanjar]]. But there was more to come, as in 1157 Khorasan was conquered by [[Khwarezmid Empire|The Khwarazmids]] and because of simultaneous attacks by the Mongols, Khorasan was annexed to the territories of the Mongol [[Ilkhanate]].
+Mahmud Ghaznavi retaliated against the invaders several times, and finally the Ghaznavi pushtuns defeated [[Ahmed Sanjar|Sultan Sanjar]]. But there was more to come, as in 1157 Khorasan was conquered by [[Khwarezmid Empire|The Khwarazmids]] and because of simultaneous attacks by the Mongols, Khorasan was annexed to the territories of the Mongol [[Ilkhanate]].
 In the 14th century, a flag of independence was hoisted by the [[Sarbedaran movement]] in [[Sabzevar]], and in 1468, Khorasan came into the hands of [[Tamerlane|Amir Teimoor Goorkani (Tamerlane)]] and the city of [[Herat]] was declared as capital.
-In 1507, Khorassan was occupied by [[Uzbek]] tribes. After the death of [[Nadir Shah]] [[Afsharid dynasty|Afshar]] in 1747, Khorasan was occupied by the Afghans.
+In 1507, Khorassan was occupied by [[Uzbek]] tribes. After the death of [[Nadir Shah]] [[Afsharid dynasty|Afshar]] in 1747, Khorasan and Seistan was occupied by the pushtuns led by Ahmed Shah Durrani from Kandahar.
+During The Greaat Game when British and Russia both wanted to conquere Afghanistan, Iran was almost colonised by British when it attacked it. Iran fearful of it being a part of British withdrew support from Afghans, but despite that Afghans defeated British three times and got it's Independence.
-During the [[Qajar]] period, [[Britain]] supported the Afghans to protect their [[British East India Company|East India Company]]. [[Herat]] was thus separated from Persia, and [[Nasser-al-Din Shah|Nasereddin Shah]] was unable to defeat the British to take back Herat. Finally, the ''Paris Treaty'' was concluded in 1903 and Iran was compelled not to challenge the British for Herat and other parts of what is today [[Afghanistan]].
 Finally Khorasan was divided into two parts: the eastern part, which was the most densely populated region came under British protection, and the other western section remained under the occupation of Iran.