Qazvin
Encyclopedia
Qazvin is the largest city and capital of the Province of Qazvin
in Iran
. At the 2006 census, its population was 349,821, in 96,420 families.
Located some 165 km northwest of Tehran
, in the Qazvin Province
, it is at an altitude of about 1800 meters above sea level. The climate is cold but dry, due to its position south of the rugged Alborz
range.
Archeological findings in the Qazvin plain reveal urban agricultural settlements for at least nine millennia. Qazvin geographically connects Tehran, Isfahan, and the Persian Gulf
to the Caspian seacoast and Asia Minor
, hence its strategic location throughout the ages.
The city today known as Qazvin is thought to have been founded by Shapur II, King of Persia in 250 CE, under the name Shad Shahpur, when he built a fortification there to control regional tensions.
Qazvin has sometimes been of central importance at important moments of Iranian history. Captured by invading Arabs (644 AD) and destroyed by Genghis Khan
(13th century), Shah Tahmasp (1524–1576) made, for a time, Qazvin the capital of the Safavid empire (founded around 1510 AD).
Bombed and occupied by Russia
n forces in both World Wars, Qazvin is also the place from which the famous coup d’état that led to the rise of the first Pahlavi dynasty
was launched in 1921.
and the main language of the people of Qazvin is Persian languages with the Qazvini accent. Other languages include Tati
(in Takestan), Kurdish, Azeri, Luri, Romani.
, one of several Sassanid edifices in the area.
Qazvin contains few buildings from the Safavid era, dating to the period in which it was capital of Persia. Perhaps the most famous of the surviving edifices is the Chehelsotoon (Kolah Farangi) mansion, today a museum in central Qazvin.
After Islam, the popularity of mystics (tasawwuf), as well as the prominence of tradition (Hadith
), religious jurisprudence (fiqh
), and philosophy in Qazvin, led to the emergence of many mosques and religious schools. They include:
Qazvin contains three buildings built by Russians in the late 19th/early 20th century. Among these is the current Mayor's office (former Ballet Hall), a water reservoir, and the Cantor church, where a Russian pilot is buried.
Other attractions near Qazvin are the tombs of two Saljuki era princes, Aboo Saeed Bijar, son of Sad, and Aboo Mansoor Iltai, son of Takin — located in two separate towers known as the Kharaghan twin towers. Constructed in 1067 CE, these were the first monuments in Islamic architecture to include a non-conic two-layered dome.
Both towers were severely damaged by a devastating earthquake in March 2003.
Aside from Shahzadeh Hossein, a Shiite saint, to whom a handsome shrine has been built, there have been an abundance of scientists and mystics who lived in Qazvin, or came from Qazvin, whose tombs are scattered throughout the cities and villages of the province. Some of these are:
trade, including cotton
, silk
and velvet
, in addition to leather
. It is on the railroad line and the highway
between Tehran and Tabriz
. Qazvin has one of the largest power plants feeding electricity into Iran's national power grid, the Shahid Raja'i facility, which provides 7% of Iran's electrical power.
Qazvin Province
The Qazvin Province is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. It is in the north-west of the country, and its center is the city of Qazvin. The province was created in 1993 out of part of Tehran Province and includes 20 cities: Qazvin, Takestan, Abyek, Buin-Zahra, Eqhbalieh, Mohammadieh, Alvand,...
in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. At the 2006 census, its population was 349,821, in 96,420 families.
Located some 165 km northwest of Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
, in the Qazvin Province
Qazvin Province
The Qazvin Province is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. It is in the north-west of the country, and its center is the city of Qazvin. The province was created in 1993 out of part of Tehran Province and includes 20 cities: Qazvin, Takestan, Abyek, Buin-Zahra, Eqhbalieh, Mohammadieh, Alvand,...
, it is at an altitude of about 1800 meters above sea level. The climate is cold but dry, due to its position south of the rugged Alborz
Alborz
Alborz , also written as Alburz, Elburz or Elborz, is a mountain range in northern Iran stretching from the borders of Azerbaijan and Armenia in the northwest to the southern end of the Caspian Sea, and ending in the east at the borders of Turkmenistan and Afghanistan...
range.
History
The city was a former capital of the Persian Empire. It is a provincial capital today that has been an important cultural center throughout history.Archeological findings in the Qazvin plain reveal urban agricultural settlements for at least nine millennia. Qazvin geographically connects Tehran, Isfahan, and the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
to the Caspian seacoast and Asia Minor
Asia Minor
Asia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
, hence its strategic location throughout the ages.
The city today known as Qazvin is thought to have been founded by Shapur II, King of Persia in 250 CE, under the name Shad Shahpur, when he built a fortification there to control regional tensions.
Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan , born Temujin and occasionally known by his temple name Taizu , was the founder and Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his death....
(13th century), Shah Tahmasp (1524–1576) made, for a time, Qazvin the capital of the Safavid empire (founded around 1510 AD).
Bombed and occupied by Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n forces in both World Wars, Qazvin is also the place from which the famous coup d’état that led to the rise of the first Pahlavi dynasty
Pahlavi dynasty
The Pahlavi dynasty consisted of two Iranian/Persian monarchs, father and son Reza Shah Pahlavi and Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi The Pahlavi dynasty consisted of two Iranian/Persian monarchs, father and son Reza Shah Pahlavi (reg. 1925–1941) and Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi The Pahlavi dynasty ...
was launched in 1921.
People
The majority of the people of the province and the city of Qazvin are PersiansPersian people
The Persian people are part of the Iranian peoples who speak the modern Persian language and closely akin Iranian dialects and languages. The origin of the ethnic Iranian/Persian peoples are traced to the Ancient Iranian peoples, who were part of the ancient Indo-Iranians and themselves part of...
and the main language of the people of Qazvin is Persian languages with the Qazvini accent. Other languages include Tati
Tati (Iran)
Tati is a group of northwestern Iranian dialects which are closely related to the Talysh language.Some sources use the term old Azari/Azeri to refer to the Tati language which was spoken in the region before the spread of Turkic languages , and is now only spoken by different rural communities in...
(in Takestan), Kurdish, Azeri, Luri, Romani.
Main sights
Qazvin contains several archeological excavations. And in the middle of the city lie the ruins of Meimoon Ghal'ehMeimoon Ghal'eh
right|thumb|380px|Meimoon Ghaleh, one of several ancient castle ruins in or near Qazvin, Iran.left|thumb|Meimoon Ghaleh, plan of lower level.right|thumb|Meimoon Ghaleh, plan of main floor.Meimoon Ghal'eh Castle, also known as Mehman Ghal'eh Castle is one of several castle ruins scattered throughout...
, one of several Sassanid edifices in the area.
Qazvin contains few buildings from the Safavid era, dating to the period in which it was capital of Persia. Perhaps the most famous of the surviving edifices is the Chehelsotoon (Kolah Farangi) mansion, today a museum in central Qazvin.
Hadith
The term Hadīth is used to denote a saying or an act or tacit approval or criticism ascribed either validly or invalidly to the Islamic prophet Muhammad....
), religious jurisprudence (fiqh
Fiqh
Fiqh is Islamic jurisprudence. Fiqh is an expansion of the code of conduct expounded in the Quran, often supplemented by tradition and implemented by the rulings and interpretations of Islamic jurists....
), and philosophy in Qazvin, led to the emergence of many mosques and religious schools. They include:
- Jame' Atiq Mosque of QazvinJame' Atiq Mosque of QazvinThe Ancient Jāmeh Mosque of Qazvīn is one of the oldest mosques in Iran, and is the grand, congregational mosque of Qazvīn city, in Qazvin Province, Iran.-Specifications:...
. - Heydarieh mosqueHeidarieh Mosque, QazvinHeydarieh mosque of Qazvin is a building in the city of Qazvin in Iran.Although renovated by Amir Khomär-täsh after the earthquake of 1119 CE, the history of construction of this edifice goes back to pre-Islam, where it was a Zoroastrian fire temple.The building today sits in the yard of an...
- Masjed Al-nabi (Soltani Mosque)Al-Nabi Mosque, QazvinThe al-Nabi Mosque is a famous mosque in Qazvīn. The mosque has an area of about 14,000m², and bears inscriptions indicating that Fath Ali Shah of the Qajar dynasty was the founder of the mosque. Other sources however indicate that the mosque has been in existence since the Safavid period...
: With an area of 14000 m2, this mosque is one of the most glorious mosques of antiquity, built in the Safavieh's monarchy era. - Sanjideh Mosque: Another mosque of Qazvin dating back to pre-Islamic Iran; a former fire temple. Its present day form is attributed to the Seljukian era.
- Panjeh Ali Mosque: A former place of worship for royal harem members in the Safavid period.
- Peighambarieh School-Mosque: Founded 1644 according to inscription.
- Peighambarieh Shrine: Where four Jewish saints who foretold the coming of Christ, are buried.
- Molla Verdikhani School-Mosque: Founded in 1648.
- Salehieh Madrasa and Mosque: Founded in 1817 by Mulla Muhammad Salih BaraghaniMulla Muhammad Salih BaraghaniMulla Muhammad Salehi Baraghani was the father of Fatemeh Baraghani, also known as Táhirih, the great Bábí heroine and early figurine of women's emancipation. He was an Usuli mujtahid in Qazvin, Iran, one of three or four brothers from Baraghan who all established themselves as leading mujtahids...
. - Sheikhol Islam School-Mosque: Renovated in 1903.
- Eltefatieh School: Dating back to the Il-Khanid period.
- Sardar School- Mosque: Made by two brothers Hossein Khan and Hassan Khan Sardar in 1815, as a fulfillment of their promise if they came back victorious from a battle against the Russians.
Other attractions near Qazvin are the tombs of two Saljuki era princes, Aboo Saeed Bijar, son of Sad, and Aboo Mansoor Iltai, son of Takin — located in two separate towers known as the Kharaghan twin towers. Constructed in 1067 CE, these were the first monuments in Islamic architecture to include a non-conic two-layered dome.
Both towers were severely damaged by a devastating earthquake in March 2003.
Notable people
- Seyyed Mohammadali Golriz , writer of the book Minoodar(( Babol jannat qazvin)) ,it is a two volume book about the history of Qazvin.
- Ali Akbar DehkhodaAli Akbar DehkhodaAllameh Ali Akbar Dehkhoda was a prominent Iranian linguist, and author of the most extensive dictionary of the Persian language ever published.-Biography:...
: Prominent linguist and author of Iran's first modern PersianPersian languagePersian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
dictionary, originally from Qazvin. - Obeid e ZakaniObeid e zakaniNezam od-Din Ubeydollah Zâkâni , or simply Ubayd-i Zākāni , was a Persian poet and satirist of the 14th century from the city of Qazvin. He studied in Shiraz, Iran under the best masters of his day, but eventually moved back to his native town of Qazvin...
: Famous 14th-century poet noted for his satire and obscene verses. His Masnavi Mush-O-Gorbeh ('Mouse and Cat') is a political satire. - Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian: Famous Iranian artist and collector of folk art.
- Aref Ghazvini.
- Nassim Shomal.
- TáhirihTáhirihTáhirih or Qurratu'l-`Ayn are both titles of Fátimih Baraghání , an influential poet and theologian of the Bábí Faith in Iran. Her life, influence and execution made her a key figure of the religion...
- Oveis Qarani: A celebrity of early Islam, thought to have been killed here while fighting against an army of Deilamian origin. His tomb is known as Sultan Veis.
- Hamdollah MostowfiHamdollah MostowfiHamdollah Mostowfi was a Persian historian, geographer and epic poet.Mostowfi is the author of Nozhat ol-Gholub , Zafar-Nameh , and the Tarikh e Gozideh . His tomb is a structure with a blue turquoise conical dome, at Qazvin.-References and notes:...
: The great Il-Khanid historian and writer (1281–1349) and author of The Selected History (Tarikh Gozideh), Nezhatol Qoloub and Zafar Nameh. The turquoise conic dome and its inscription in Sols calligraphy in which Mostowfi’s family tree and his works are introduced are the features that distinguish the tomb from other historical monuments of Qazvin. - Imam Ahmad Ghazali: Famous Iranian sufi who died in 1126 CE and was buried beside Shahzadeh Hossein. His tomb was until the end of the 16th century the pilgrimage place for mystical sects. Following Shah Tahmasb's stern policies against philosophers and mystics, which led to the destruction of Ghazali's tomb, a group of his disciples took the remains of his body to the present place in Imamzadeh Ismail alley, where they constructed a new mausoleum. This monument was destroyed in Mohammad Shah Qajar's period, but was rebuilt by Majdol Islam Qazvini in 1910. Beside Ghazali's tomb there is another tomb belonging to Soltan Seyed Mohammad Vali, dating from 1625 CE.
- Molla Khalil Ibn Ghazi Qazvini: Famous faghih (religious jurist) and commentator of the Qur'anQur'anThe Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
in the Safavid period (d 1678). - Shahidsaless: Killed in 1846. The third religious leader after Imam Ali who was murdered during prayer.
- Ra'ees ol-Mojahedin: The late Mirza Hassan Sheikhol Islam, son of Mirza Masood Sheikhol Islam, leader of the liberals and constitutionalists of Qazvin, whose endeavors and devotion to abolish the Qajar dynasty and conquer Tehran brought the title of Raeesol Mojahedin (chief of fighters) for him.
- Ali Ibn Shäzän
- Ibn Majah, author of the last of the six canonical hadithHadithThe term Hadīth is used to denote a saying or an act or tacit approval or criticism ascribed either validly or invalidly to the Islamic prophet Muhammad....
collections recognized by Sunni Muslims. - Kázim-i-SamandarKázim-i-SamandarShaykh Káẓim-i-Samandar known as Samandar was an eminent follower of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, a global religion of Persian origin. He was born to a prominent Bahá'í family of Qazvin of Bábí and Shaykhi background...
- Yousef AlikhaniYousef AlikhaniYousef Alikhani is an Iranian writer.-Early life:Alikhani was born in the village of Milek, Qazvīn Province. He studied Arabic literature at the University of Tehran.- Collections of short stories :...
- Mojabi family, a prominent family that originates from Qazvin including Javad MojabiJavad Mojabi- Profile :He has a BS in Law and a Ph.D. in Economics from Tehran University. He has written hundreds of critical works and essays on art and culture in journals and magazines. He began writing poetry in the 1960s, along with short story writing and research on modern painting in Iran.A well-known...
and Zohreh MojabiZohreh MojabiZohreh Mojabi is an Iranian actress and playwright who has appeared in a number of films and TV serials.Mojabi studied at the School of Fine Arts, University of Tehran from which she received a BA in Acting and an MA from Islamic Azad University....
. - Nasser Takmil HomayounNasser Takmil HomayounNasser Takmil Homayoun is an Iranian historian.He received two PhDs, one in history and another in Sociology from the Sorbonne in France....
- Yusuf Siddique, contemporary linguistics professor, one of main proponents of Optimality theoryOptimality theoryOptimality theory is a linguistic model proposing that the observed forms of language arise from the interaction between conflicting constraints. OT models grammars as systems that provide mappings from inputs to outputs; typically, the inputs are conceived of as underlying representations, and...
outside of European academia. - Jamal Karimi RadJamal Karimi-RadJamal Karimi-Rad was the Minister of Justice of the Islamic Republic of Iran.He was killed in a car accident on December 28, 2006. Gholam-Hossein Elham became the acting justice minister after this fatal event.-External links:**...
, minister of justice of Iran.
Economy
Qazvin today is a center of textileTextile
A textile or cloth is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of wool, flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands...
trade, including cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
, silk
Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
and velvet
Velvet
Velvet is a type of woven tufted fabric in which the cut threads are evenly distributed,with a short dense pile, giving it a distinctive feel.The word 'velvety' is used as an adjective to mean -"smooth like velvet".-Composition:...
, in addition to leather
Leather
Leather is a durable and flexible material created via the tanning of putrescible animal rawhide and skin, primarily cattlehide. It can be produced through different manufacturing processes, ranging from cottage industry to heavy industry.-Forms:...
. It is on the railroad line and the highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
between Tehran and Tabriz
Tabriz
Tabriz is the fourth largest city and one of the historical capitals of Iran and the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. Situated at an altitude of 1,350 meters at the junction of the Quri River and Aji River, it was the second largest city in Iran until the late 1960s, one of its former...
. Qazvin has one of the largest power plants feeding electricity into Iran's national power grid, the Shahid Raja'i facility, which provides 7% of Iran's electrical power.
Colleges and universities
Qazvin has four institutes of higher education:- Imam Khomeini International UniversityImam Khomeini International University-A Brief History Of The University:The IKIU is one of the universities in I.R.Iran which is to be considered as a fruit of the Islamic Revolution. This university is dorned by the holy name of the founder of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini and under the support, pure effort and willpower of...
- Islamic Azad University of Qazvin-QIAU
- Kar University
- Payam-e-Noor University of Qazvin
- Qazvin University of Medical SciencesQazvin University of Medical SciencesQazvin University of Medical Sciences, is a medical school in Qazvin Province of Iran.Located in northwest of Tehran in the city of Qazvin, the university was established in 1984, and fell under the Ministry of Health and Medical Education in 1986....
- Raja University
- Shahid Babaee Technical Institute
Schools
- Shahid Babaee High School (Qazvin Sampad)Shahid Babaee High School (Qazvin Sampad)Shahid Babaee High School is Qazvin Branch of National Organization for Development of Exceptional Talents .It is also known as QAZVIN SAMPAD . This branch of NODET, which is located in north of Qazvin, has intermediate and High School in the same building...
- Farzanegan High School
- Allame Jafari High School
- Kish Mehr Language Institute
- Sadra 1 High SchoolSadra 1 High SchoolSadra High School is a high school in Qazvin. The training complex is a middle and high school that was established Islamic Revolution in Qazvin.-Education:...
External links
- / Students Society of Islamic Azad university of Qazvin
- Qazvin Society of Chemists
- Qazvin Bureau of Technicians
- Construction Engineering Regulatory Commission of Qazvin
- Taban (Newspaper based in Qazvin)
- Sedaye Sanat (Economic Monthly from Qazvin)
- Qazvin Phone Directory
- Qazvin Photographer's Guild
- Qazvin Province Information Network
- Qazvin Tourism Bureau
- Qazvin Cultural Heritage Organization
- Mir Emad Qazvini website
- Qazvin Visual Arts Association
- Qazvin Calligraphers Council
- Qazvin Red Crecent Rescue Emergency Unit
- Qazvin Industrial Estates Corporation
- Qazvin Electric Power Company
- Qazvin IT Company
- Satellite Picture by Google Maps
- FallingRain Map - elevation = 1285m (Red dots are railways)