Iranian Cities in the Mirror of Travelogues: Transformations and Eastern-Western Perspectives (3rd to 12th Centuries AH)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Art and Architecture, Kurdistan university, sanandaj, Iran.

2 Art and Architecture, Kurdistan University, Sanandaj, Iran

Abstract

Introduction:
U Iranian cities, as dynamic centers of political, economic, and socio-cultural life, have undergone profound transformations between the 3rd–12th centuries AH. While historical travelogues from this period provide invaluable firsthand accounts, existing research suffers from three critical gaps: (1) fragmented period-specific analyses lacking longitudinal perspective, (2) insufficient attention to East-West representational differences, and (3) methodological deficiencies in textual analysis. This study bridges these gaps through a systematic comparative framework.
Methodology: In this study, using historical-analytical approaches and qualitative content analysis, 14 travelogues (7 Eastern travelogues: such as Nasser Khosrow, Ibn Battuta; 7 Western travelogues: such as Chardin, Tavernier) that were selected through purposive sampling to ensure geographical, temporal, and cultural diversity were examined. Data were coded in MAXQDA using a five-dimensional matrix: physical (mosques, bazaar, fortifications), economic (trade, industries), socio-cultural (customs, religious practices), political (governance structures), and environmental (water systems, natural challenges). The analysis followed a three-phase coding process (open-axial-selective) with inter-coder verification to ensure reliability.
Results: The analysis of historical travelogues reveals distinct evolutionary patterns in Iranian cities across three key periods. During the 3rd–6th centuries AH, cities were characterized by a simple yet functional structure centered around mosques, bazaar, and defensive elements. Travelogues such as Ibn Hawqal’s Ṣūrat al-Arḍ and Naser Khosrow’s Safarnāma highlight the mosque as both a religious and social hub, while bazaar thrived as economic and communal spaces. However, environmental challenges, particularly water scarcity in southern regions, posed significant constraints. The 7th–9th centuries AH marked a period of destruction and gradual revival following the Mongol invasions. Cities like Tabriz and Isfahan suffered extensive damage, as documented by Mustawfi and Ibn Battuta, but later reconstruction emphasized religious and educational institutions, including shrines and madrasas. This era also saw heightened sectarian tensions, particularly between Sunni and Shia communities, which influenced urban social dynamics.
By the 10th–12th centuries AH, Iranian cities reached their zenith, becoming centers of trade, culture, and governance. Western travelers such as Chardin and Tavernier detailed the grandeur of Safavid-era Isfahan, with its expansive bazaars, ornate mosques, and sophisticated infrastructure. However, their accounts also note urban decay in some areas, including deteriorating buildings and social issues like prostitution—a contrast to Eastern writers, who focused more on spiritual and communal life.
Discussion: The study demonstrates how Iranian cities maintained functional-spatial continuity (persistent mosque-bazaar nexus) while adapting to political upheavals. Divergent representations reflect epistemological differences: Eastern "experience-based" narratives versus Western "structural-functional" observations. This duality enriches urban historiography when analyzed through Said’s (1978) critical lens.
Conclusion: This study reveals Iranian cities' resilience through three evolutionary periods (3rd-12th c. AH), maintaining core elements while adapting to changes. Eastern and Western travelogues offer complementary perspectives - experiential versus structural - enriching urban historiography. The findings provide both methodological insights for historical urban studies and practical lessons for contemporary heritage-sensitive planning.

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Main Subjects

References

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Urban Planning Knowledge
Volume 9, Issue 3
December 2025
Pages 75-97

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  • Receive Date: 01 March 2025
  • Revise Date: 20 May 2025
  • Accept Date: 22 September 2025

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