Herat

 

(hĕrät') , city (1984 est. pop. 161,000), capital of Herat prov., NW Afghanistan, on the Hari Rud. The fertile river valley is renowned for its fruits, especially grapes. Herat has textile weaving and carpet industries and is a market for wool, carpets, dried fruits, and nuts. The city walls are gone, but the great earthwork of the citadel remains. Herat, whose inhabitants are mainly Tajiks, is also noted for its bazaars and its highly decorated gharries (horse-drawn cabs). Landmarks include the Great Mosque (first built 12th cent.) and several exquisite minarets. Paved roads lead to the Turkmenistan border. Herat, an ancient city, is identified with the Haroyu of the Vendidad (Zoroastrian priestly code), the Haraiva of Achaemenian inscriptions, and the Aria of the Greeks. Its strategic location on the trade route from Persia to India and on the caravan road from China and central Asia to Europe has long made Herat an object of contention among the powers of the day. Although taken by various conquerors, it remained under the Persian empire for several centuries. The Mongols under Jenghiz Khan devastated Herat in 1221. Timur took the city in 1383; under his later successors, Shah Rukh and Husayn, it enjoyed prosperity, and its court was a center of art and learning. The Uzbeks took Herat in the early 16th cent.; later it was disputed between the Persians and the rulers of an emerging Afghanistan. In the mid-19th cent., British pressure checked Persian claims to Herat, which in 1881 was taken by Abd ar-Rahman and finally confirmed as part of a united Afghanistan. During the 1979–89 Soviet occupation, it was a military command center for Soviet forces. Although nominally still part of Afghanistan, the city, province, and surrounding areas are in fact under the rule of Ishmael Khan, a former Afghan army officer who led a revolt against the Soviets in 1979 and has amassed a sizable guerrilla army.

Coordinates: 34°′″N 62°′″E / 34.342, 62.203

Herat
The Friday Mosque in Herāt
Herat
Province	Herat
Coordinates	34°′″N 62°′″E / 34.342, 62.203
Population (2006)	(3rd) Central Statistics Office of Afghanistan
Area  - Elevation	m ( ft)
Time zone	[[UTC+4:30]] Kabul

Herāt (Persian: هرات) is a city in western Afghanistan, in the province also known as Herāt. It is situated in the valley of the Hari Rud, a river flowing from the mountains of central Afghanistan to the Kara-Kum Desert in Turkmenistan. Situated in a fertile area, Herāt was traditionally known for its wine. It is the third largest city of Afghanistan, with a population of 349,000 (2006 official estimate). Persian-speaking Tājīks (or Fārsīwāns) are the main inhabitants of the city.^[1]

Herat is an ancient city with many historic buildings, although these have suffered damage in various military conflicts during the last few decades. The city is dominated by the remains of a citadel constructed under the rule of Alexander the Great. During the Middle Ages Herat became one of the important cities of Khorasan, and it was known as the Pearl of Khorasan.

Herāt is situated favorably on the ancient and historic trade routes of the Middle East, India, China, and Europe. The roads from Herāt to Iran, Turkmenistan, Mazari Sharif and Kandahar are still strategically important.

History

Herat dates back to ancient times, but its exact age remains unknown. In Achaemenid times (ca. 550-330 BC), the surrounding district was known as Haraiva (in Old Persian), and in classical sources the region was correspondingly known as Aria (Areia). In the Zoroastrian Avesta, the district is mentioned as Haroiva. The name of the district and its main town is derived from that of the chief river of the region, the Hari Rud (Old Iranian Harayu "with velocity"), which traverses the district and passes just south (5 km) of modern Herat. The naming of a region and its principal town after the main river is a common feature in this part of the world. (Compare the adjoining districts/rivers/towns of Arachosia and Bactria.)

The Persian Achaemenid district of Aria is mentioned in the provincial lists that are included in various royal inscriptions, for instance, in the Behistun inscription of Darius I (ca. 520 BC).^[2] Representatives from the district are depicted in reliefs, e.g., at the royal Achaemenid tombs of Naqsh-e Rustam and Persepolis.

Herodotus called Herat as the bread-basket of Central Asia. At the time of Alexander the Great, Aria was obviously an important district. It was administered by a satrap, called Satibarzanes, who was one of the three main Persian officials in the East of the Empire, together with the satrap Bessus of Bactria and Barsaentes of Arachosia. In late 330 BC Alexander the Great, captured the Arian capital that was called Artacoana. The town was rebuilt and the citadel was constructed. It was part of the Seleucid Empire but was captured by others on various occasions and became part of the Parthian Empire in 167 BC.

In the Sasanian period (226-652), "Harev" is listed in an inscription on the Ka'ba-i Zartosht at Naqsh-e Rustam; and "Hariy" is mentioned in the Pahlavi catalogue of the provincial capitals of the empire. Ca. 430, the town is also listed as having a Christian community, with a Nestorian bishop.

In the last two centuries of Sasanian rule, the area and town of Aria/Herat had great strategic importance in the endless wars between the Sasanian Iranians and the Chionites and Hephthalites, of Hunnish origin, who had been settled in modern northern Afghanistan since the late fourth century. The city of Herat, however, became well known with the advent of the Arabs in the middle of the seventh century.

When the Arab armies appeared in Khorasan in the 650s, Herat was counted among the twelve capital towns of the Sasanian Empire.

Around 786-809 Herāt was part of the Abbasid caliphate. Later, it was ruled by the Tahirid dynasty.

After 867-869 the Saffarid dynasty took control.

Before 1040 it was ruled by the Ghaznavids. In 1040 it was captured by the Seljuk Empire. In 1175 it was captured by the Ghorids and then came under the Khawarazm Empire. In this period Herāt became an important center for the production of metal goods, especially in bronze, often decorated with elaborate inlays in precious metals.

In 1221 it was captured by the Mongols and later destroyed by Genghis Khan. In 1245 it was given to the Kart Maliks.

Around 1381 it was destroyed again by Timur. Under his son Shah Rukh it was rebuilt and became an important center under the Timurid Empire. In the late 1400s the Musalla complex (with many minarets) was built under the rule of Queen Gawharshad. Her tomb complex is considered one of the great monuments of Timurid architectural carving.

The Black Sheep Turkomans (Qara Qoyunlu) at one point established their capital in Herat during the fifteenth century. ^[3]

In 1506 it was captured by the Uzbeks and a few years later was taken back by Shah Ismail Safavi, to become part of a new Persian Empire.

From 1718 until 1863, there were various battles fought between the natives of the city and the Afghans until the city became part of present-day Afghanistan. Ahmad Shah Durrani took possession of Herat in 1750, which became part of the Durrani Empire after almost a year of siege and bloody conflict. In 1824, the city became effectively independent when the country was split in three to resolve a succession struggle. The city was taken back by the Persians in 1852 and again in 1856; both times the British helped to reverse the attempt, the second time through the Anglo-Persian War. The city was taken by Dost Mohammed Khan in 1863, restoring it to its status as part of a broader Afghan country.

Most of the Musallah complex in Herat was destroyed in 1885 by the British army for a clear line of sight for their artillery against Russian invaders who never came.

During the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan Herat was used by the Soviets. Even before the Soviet invasion at the end of 1979, there was a substantial presence of Soviet advisors in the city with their families. From 10 to 20 March 1979 the army in Herat under the control of Ismail Khan mutinied and 350 Soviet citizens were killed. The Soviets bombed the city, causing massive destruction and some 20,000 deaths and it was recaptured with tanks and paratroopers.

Ismail Khan became the leading Mujahedin commander in Herat and after the departure of the Soviets he became governor of Herāt. In September 1995 the city was captured by the Taliban and Ismail Khan fled. However, after the US invasion of Afghanistan, on November 12, 2001, it was liberated from the Taliban by the Northern Alliance and Ismail Khan returned to power (see Battle of Herat). In 2004, Mirwais Sadeq Khan, who was Aviation Minister of Afghanistan and the son of Ismail Khan, was ambushed and killed in Herat. More than 200 people were arrested on suspicion of involvement.^[4]

Herat is presently a part of Afghanistan's new central government, which is led by US backed President Hamid Karzai. There are also NATO peacekeeping forces present in and around the city providing security.

In 2007, Iran and Afghanistan finalized an agreement for the establishment of a rail-service between the two countries. Work is about to start soon for laying down of the railtrack.

Tourism and siteseeing

Herat is a great place to visit. However, personal security for foreign visitors is (as of September 2007) a significant issue. Both UNAMA Security personnel and seasoned international journalists warn against travel outside the city, or without a companion. There have been "too many" kidnaps within the city (according to the UNAMA representative), and solo travel in a taxi may lead to a mobile-phone call to arrange a kidnap or similar trouble.

• Airports
  • Herat Airport

• City Districts
  • Shar Noe (New City)
  • Walayat
  • Ghoulur-due
  • Fargha
  • Durwaza Khush (Happy Gate)
  • Char-su (Four-way)
  • Pull-ragina
  • Sufi-habad
  • Noe-habad
  • Pull-malun
  • Thakh-ta Safar

• Monuments
  • Citadel of Alexander
  • Musalla Complex

• Museums
  • Herat National Museum (currently closed, relocating to the Citadel)
  • Jihad Museum

• Shrines
  • Tomb of Queen Gawarshad
  • Tomb of Mirwais Sadiq

• Mosques
  • Juma Mosque (Friday Mosque)
  • Kazir-gah Sharif
  • Khalgha Sharif
  • Shah Zahdaha

• Parks
  • Park-e Taraki
  • Park-e Millat
  • Khana-e Jihad Park

• Stadiums
  • Herat Stadium

• Hotels
  • Serena Hotel (coming soon)
  • Diamond Hotel
  • Marcopolo Hotel

• Universities
  • Herat University

Famous people from Herat

• Khwājah Abdullāh Ānsārī, a famous Persian poet of the 11th century
• Nūr ud-Dīn Jāmī, a famous Persian Sufi poet of the 15th century
• Nizām ud-Din ʿAlī Shīr Navā'ī, famous poet and politician of the Timurid era
• Ustād Kamāl ud-Dīn Behzād, the greatest of the medieval Persian painters
• Gowharšād, wife of Shāhrūkh Mīrzā
• Mīrzā Shāhrūkh bin Tīmur Barlas, Emperor of the Timurid Dynasty of Herat
• Mīrzā Husseyn Bāyqarāh, Emperor of the Timurid Dynasty of Herat
• Shāh Abbās The Great, Emperor of Safawid Persia
• Abbas Gholi Khan Shamlu (Governor of Herat , 1812)
• Mowlānā Fayzānī, famous reformer and philosopher of the 20th century

See also

• Herat Province
• History of Afghanistan
• Aria (satrapy)
• Greater Khorasan
• Timurids

Notes and references

This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.

External links

• Dupree, Nancy Hatch (1977): An Historical Guide to Afghanistan. 1st Edition: 1970. 2nd Edition. Revised and Enlarged. Afghan Tourist Organization. Link
• HeratNet Latest news from Herat
• Photo Gallery of Herat
• An Historical Guide to Afghanistan - Herat
• Local News From Herat
• Latest on Herat
• Map of Herat

Twelve largest cities of Afghanistan by population
Kabul  · Kandahar  · Herat  · Mazari Sharif  · Qunduz  · Taluqan  · Puli Khumri  · Jalalabad  · Charikar  · Sheberghan  · Ghazni  · Sari Pul

The architecture of Iran and historical Persia
Elements	Bazaars • The Persian Garden (hayāt) • Windcatchers • Shabestan • Kucheh • Talar • Iwan • Howz • Panjdari • Hashti • Andaruni • Biruni (persian architecture) • Dalan e Vorudi • Qanat • Kariz • Gonbad • Ab anbar • Yakhchal • Caravanserais • Robats • Burj • Khaneqah • Tekyeh • Sahn • Imamzadeh • mosques
Notable traditional cities	Architecture of Tehran • Kashan  • Qazvin • Yazd • Isfahan • Shiraz • Qom • Herat • Derbent • Bukhara • Samarkand • Merv • Mashad • Bam • Persepolis • Ctesiphon • Susa • Shahrisabz
History and theory	Traditional Persian residential architecture • Traditional water sources of Persian antiquity • Islamic architecture • Sassanid architecture • Pre-Parsi style • Parsi style • Parthian style • Khorasani style • Razi style • Azari style • Isfahani style
Lists	List of ab anbars of Qazvin • List of historical Iranian architects • List of mosques • Args, Castles, and Ghal'ehs • List of Ziyarat-gahs

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