Tabriz
It is situated north of the volcanic cone of Sahand, south of the Eynali mountain. Tabriz lies at the junction of the Komur River (Mehran River) and the Aji River.
With a population of 1,600,000, Tabriz is Iran's Fourth largest city, after Tehran, Mashhad and Esfahan.
History
Etymology
The founding of Tabriz is shrouded in mystery and myth.
Various sources name the city as the possible site of the Biblical Garden of Eden.
According to some sources, including Encyclopedia Britannica, the name Tabriz derives from "tap-riz" ("causing heat to flow" in Iranian languages), from the many thermal springs in the area. 246, to avenge his brother's death, king Khosraw I of Armenia defeated Ardashir I of the Sassanid Empire and changed the name of the city from Shahistan to Tauris, deriving from "ta-vrezh" ("this revenge" in Grabar).
297, it became the capital of Tiridates III, king of Armenia.
Medieval and renaissance history
In A.D. 791, Zubaidah, the wife of Abbasid caliph Harun al-Rashid, rebuilt Tabriz after a devastating earthquake and beautified the city so much as to obtain the credit for having been its founder.
After the Mongol invasion, Tabriz came to eclipse Maragheh as the later Ilkhanid capital of Azarbaijan until sacked by Tamerlane in 1392. Chosen as a capital by Arghun Khan, fourth ruler of the Ilkhanate, for its favored location in the northwestern grasslands, in 1295, his successor Ghazan Khan 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.
From 1375 to 1468, Tabriz was the capital of Kara Koyunlu state in Azarbaijan, and from 1469 to 1501 the capital of Ak Koyunlu state.
In 1501, Shah Ismail I entered Tabriz and proclaimed it the capital of his Safavid dynasty.
In 1514, after the Battle of Chaldiran, Tabriz fell for a few months to the Ottomans, yet was returned and remained a capital of Safavid Iranian empire until 1548, when Shah Tahmasp I moved Safavid capital to Qazvin.
The Ottomans occupied Tabriz on a number of occasions during and after the Safavid reign, including the period from 1585 to 1603. Nevertheless, by the 17th century it was a major commercial center, carrying out trade with the Ottoman Empire, Russia, central Asia, and India.
Because of this, Iranians have described Tabriz as a "City of firsts". These include:
The first printing house of Iran was founded in Tabriz (1811).
The first modern school of Iran was founded in Tabriz by Hassan Roshdieh (1888). Also the first movie theater in Tehran was founded by a Tabrizi (1921).
Tabriz was the first city in Iran that got a Telephone system (about 1900).
The famous Iranian historian, Ahmad Kasravi, was born in a nearby village called Hokmavar.
The new communist government, under the leadership of Jafar Pishevari, held power for a year from 1946, then Tabriz was taken back by Iran (on 1947) after the forced Soviet withdrawal.
Historical timeline
4 BC: It is the capital of Media Atropatene ,named after Atropates, an Iranian governor of the province (appointed by Alexander the Great).
297 AD: It becomes the capital of Tiridates III, the king of Armenia.
791: Tabriz is rebuilt by Zubaidah, wife of Harun al-Rashid, after being destroyed by an earthquake.
858: An earthquake destroys large parts of Tabriz.
1041: An earthquake destroys large parts of Tabriz.
late 1200s: The Mongol Il-Khan Arghun makes Tabriz his capital.
1501: Ismail Safavi crowned as Shah in Tabriz, founding the Safavid dynasty
1548: Tabriz is replaced by Qazvin as the capital of the Safavid kingdom. Tabriz was considered too 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: Qajar army enters back in Tabriz.
1850: Báb, the founder of the Bábí Faith and Forerunner of Bahá'u'lláh is executed in Tabriz.
1906 - 1908: Tabriz becomes the centre of the Iranian Constitutional Revolution.
1927: An earthquake destroyed large parts of Tabriz.
1941: Tabriz occupied by the Soviet troops.
1945: December: Becomes the capital of a short-lived Soviet-backed autonomous Azerbaijan People's Government.
1946: Tabriz University is opened.
1947: Iranian troops take back Tabriz.
Excavation sites
Excavation founding in 2002 in Blue mosque site, belongs to 3000 years ago.
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.
Analysis has shown that the background of the graves to be more than 2000 years old.
There is another excavation site in Abbasi alley where the Robe Rashidi was.
Governing system
Further information: List of Tabriz Mayors
City authority lies with the mayor, who is elected by a municipal board. In the summer, the weather is typically hot, dry and clear.
Culture
A sample of Tabriz rugs
Language
The predominant language in the city is Azerbaijani.
The sung poetry sometimes includes tahrir segments, which use a form of throat singing similar to yodeling. The poetry is typically about divine love and is often linked to Sufi Islam.
In contrast to the mugam traditions of Central Asian countries, Azeri mugam is more free-form and less rigid; it is often compared to the improvised field of jazz.
UNESCO proclaimed the Azerbaijani mugam tradition a "Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" on November 7, 2003.
Ashiqs are travelling bards who sing and play the saz, a form of lute.
Shown here: Kufteh Tabrizi.
kufta Tabrizi (Azeri:Tabriz kufta si) is a special food prepared in Tabriz. 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.), Karimi (Valieasr Quarter) and Eftekhari (Mansour Street)," Ayubi"(Abrassan Sq.) ,"Tesaj"(serah Sq.)
Tourism
Monuments
Armenian illuminated manuscript of 1337, done by Avag in Sultania / Tabriz.
Several times in its history (e.g., in 858, 1041, and 1721), Tabriz was devastated by earthquakes which wiped out most of the historic monuments.
One important monument that has survived these earthquakes is the Tabriz Citadel (Ark-e Tabriz or Ark-e Alishah), a ruin of vertical book-shaped elements. Here is a list of city's monuments:
Aji River Bridge, an old bridge on the Aji River, beside the airport street
Ark-e Tabriz
The Amir Nezam House
Armenian church of Adontist
Armenian church of Saint Mary
Asurian church
Bagh Golestan park
Baghlar Baghi park
Bazaar of Tabriz
The Behnam House (School of Architecture, Islamic Art University of Tabriz)
Goy Masjid (Blue Mosque)
Bogh'e Imamzade Ibrahim
Catholic church of Tabriz
Charm Sazi-e Khosravi (Faculty of Applied Arts)
Shrine in Eynali Mountain
Ghari Bridge, 2 Historical Bridges on the Mehran River
Jameh Mosque of Tabriz, located at raste-koucheh
Maqbaratoshoara (Tumb of Poets)
Nobar Hamami
Saat Tower (Tabriz City Hall)
Saheb ol Amr
Seyed Hamzeh Grave
Shah Gholi (Pool of the King) park
Tabriz Fire Fighting Tower
Tabriz Railway Station
Tarbiyat street
The House of Boulourchian
The House of Mashrouteh (constitution)
The House of Sheykh-al-Islam
Tomb of Two Kamals, Abbasi street
sharbatoglu house , in seqat ol eslam street ,sorkhab alley no 62.
Museums
There are eight major museums in Tabriz:
Azarbaijan Museum, Tabriz
Museum of Azarbaijan in Khomeyni Street
Measurement Museum
Tabriz Constitution House (Museum of Constitution Revolution) in Bazaar
Shahryar Literature Museum (House of Late Poet Shahryar) in Maqsoudieh Quarter
Museum of Ostad Bohtouni in Laklar Quarter
Museum of Qajar in Sheshghelan Quarter
Museum of Nature in Azadi Street near to Abresan Crossway
Museum of Iran municipalities history in saat (municipality) tower of Tabriz
Major hotels
A view of Tabriz Hotel Pars.
'Hotel Pars (Hotel El Gholi) (International, 5 star) in Shah Goli
Shahryar International Hotel (5 star) in Shah Gholi Street
Hotel Gostaresh (4 star) in Abresan Sq.
Tabriz International Hotel(4 star ) in Daneshgah Sq.
Hotel Azarbaijan in Shahnaz Street
Hotel Ark in Shahnaz Street
Hotel Darya (3 star) in Khomeyni Street
Hotel Park in Khomeyni Street
Hotel Negin
Hotel Sina, in front of Golestan Park (Gunga Bashi)
Hotel Marmar, in Darvazeh Tehran road
Kandovan Tourism Cliff (Rocky) Hotel (5 star), located at Kandovan touristy village.
A list of the universities and research centers in the city follows:
University of Tabriz
Tabriz University of Medical Sciences
Sahand University of Technology
Tarbiat Moallem University of Azarbaijan
Tabriz Arts University
Elmi Karbordi University of Tabriz
Islamic Azad University of Tabriz
University College of Nabi Akram
Seraj Higher Education Institute
Roshdiyeh Higher Education Institute of Tabriz
Jahad Daneshgahi(ACECR) Higher Education Institute,East Azarbaijan branch , located at Jaam Jam Street
Payame Noor University of Tabriz
Khajeh Rashid University
Imam Hossein University, Tabriz Branch
Shahid Beheshti Training Teacher Center of Tabriz
East Azarbaijan Park of Science & Technology
Tabriz college of Technology
Azzahra College of Technology, Tabriz, girls college
State Organization of Technical and Vocational Training
Famous Schools
Mansoor High School (Now divided into 2 high schools with new names) is one of the most highest ranking schools in Tabriz which was established about 50 years ago. One of the high schools is named as Taleqani and the other as Motahhari.
Roshdieh School is the first modern Iranian school which was established by Haj-Mirza Hassan Roshdieh.
Currently its building is used as the Tabriz branch of the National Iranian Documents and Library Office.
Memorial School (American School of Tabriz) was opened on 1891 and is one of the most famous schools of its type. After World War II the school's name was changed to Parvin High School under Iran education ministry's management.
The original building was constructed by German Engineers before World War II (to serve as Hospital). (ITMCO)
Shahrdari Tabriz F.C.
Tabriz Petrochemical Complex F.C.
Tabriz also has two stadiums for soccer:
Bagh Shomal Stadium, with 20,000 Capacity
Yadegar-e-Emam Stadium with 71,000 Capacity
Notable people
Sufi
Shams Tabrizi
Politicians and reformists
Sattar khan, nationalist revolutionary leader
Baqer khan, nationalist revolutionary leader
Mohammad Khiabani, cleric, a political leader during Iran's constitutionalist revolution
Hasan Taqizadeh, politician (former President of the Iranian Senate), Diplomat and Scholar.
Ahmad Kasravi, politician and author
Iraj Mirza,
Mirza Abdul'Rahim Talibov Tabrizi, intellectual and social reformer.
Ali Soheili, Prime Minister of Iran
Ebrahim Hakimi, Prime Minister of Iran
Mahmud Jam, Prime Minister of Iran
Ali Sadri,poet.and famous politician
Farah Pahlavi, the last queen consort of Iran.
Poets and writers
Qatran Tabrizi, poet
Homam Tabrizi, poet
Parvin E'tesami, poet
Mohammad Hoseyn Behjat Tabrizi (Shahriyar), poet
Mirza Taqikhan Raf'at Tabrizi, poet, writer, funder of Raf'at Literary School
Irajmirza, poet
Sahand Gharachorlu, poet
Yadollah Maftun Amini, poet
Abu'l Majd Tabrizi, compiler of Safina-yi Tabriz and also a writer
Samad Behrangi, Famous Children's books writer
Reza Baraheni, novelist, poet, critic and political activist
Gholamhossein Saedi, writer, novelist, and political activist
Naser Merqati, Poet, writer,
Fariba Vafi, novelist
Scientists
Mohsen Hashtroodi, Mathematician
Javad Tabatabaei, political philosopher, historian and a distinguished university professor.
Clergymen
Allameh Tabatabaei, one of the most prominent thinkers of contemporary Shia Islam
Allameh Mohammad Taghi Jafari, philosopher , thinker
Artists
Ali Salimi Alud, musician, Conductor of the Province TV Orchestra
Farhad Fakhredini, musician, Conductor of National Orchestra
Kamal Tabrizi, movie producer
Tahmineh Milani, film director, screenwriter, and producer
Resam Arjangi, painter
Behrouz Jamali, musician
Others
Karim Bagheri, footballer
Cyrus Dinmohammadi, footballer
Rasoul Khatibi, football player
Aziz Asli, football player
Sattar Hamedani, football player
Feridoun Jam, Marshal and previous head of Iran Imperial Army Core
Ghader Mizbani, Cyclist
For a complete list see: List of people from Tabriz
Major Industries
Heavy Industries
Tabriz is one of Iran's most important industrial cities.
That could be the reason to honor the city as Chocolate City of Iran also. Journal of a Diplomate's Three Years' Residence in Persia, Smith, Elder and Co., 1864, p.