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Tabriz

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Map of Iran and surrounding lands, showing location of Tabriz

Tabriz City Hall, built in 1895, by Arfa'ol molk, with the aid of German engineers.
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Tabriz City Hall, built in 1895, by Arfa'ol molk, with the aid of German engineers.

Tabriz (Persian: تبریز , Azerbaijani: Təbriz) is the largest city in north-western Iran with a population of 1.2 million people. Tabriz is situated north of the volcanic cone of Sahand south of the Eynali mountain. It is the capital of East Azarbaijan Province.

Tabriz is the main cultural center of Iranian Azarbaijan, and most of its people are Azerbaijanis.

Historically, the founding of the city is shrouded in mystery. Most sources mention the Sassanid era, while others believe it to be even further back in history. After the Turkic invasion of Iran, Tabriz later became the capital of the Ilkhanate empire from about 1270 to 1305, of the Aq Quyunlu from about 1469 to about 1502, and of the Safavids from 1502-1548. It also fell under Ottoman rule for some time during the time of the Safavids,.

Research by British Egyptologist and historian David Rohl suggests that the Biblical Garden of Eden was situated here. His findings were published in his book Legend: The Genesis of Civilisation and then made into a documentary for the Discovery Channel.[[Citing sources citation needed]]

Violent earthquakes have wiped out most of the historic monuments of Tabriz. One important monument that has survived these earthquakes is the Tabriz Citadel (Ark-e Tabriz or Ark-e Ælishah), a ruin of vertical book-shaped elements. The Blue Mosque of Tabriz (Göy-Mæčid), is another important monument in the city.

View of a public square in the city.
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View of a public square in the city.

Tabriz is where the constitutionalists of Iran was centered during the early 20th century. An American who died defending the Constitutional Revolution, Howard Baskerville, is buried in Tabriz. The famous Iranian historian and philosopher, Ahmad Kasravi, was born in a nearby village called Hokmavar. Samad Behrangi, a famous writer and musicians, along with Ali Salimi, Vahid Houseini, and Ostad Bigjeh Khani were tar specialists from this city.

Daytime temperatures usually reach at least 30 degrees Celsius (high 80s Fahrenheit) in July and August and drop below freezing in January.

Contents

Culture

View of the renovated Friday Mosque of Tabriz.
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View of the renovated Friday Mosque of Tabriz.
The music and folksongs of Tabriz are popular and traditions have a long history among its people. The handicrafts in the Bazaar of Tabriz, and in particular the Tabriz rug is famous world-wide, and Tabrizis celebrate many holidays such as Norooz in their own distinctive special ways.

Tabriz also has a special place in Persian literature, as the following sample of verses from some of Iran's best poets and authors illustrates:

عزیزی در اقصای تبریز بود

که همواره بیدار و شبخیز بود

A beloved lived in Tabriz away from sight,
who was always alert and awake at night
―Bustan of Sadi

تا به تبریزم دو چیزم حاصل است
نیم نان و آب مهران رود و بس

As long as I live in Tabriz, two things I need not worry of,
The half loaf of bread and the water of Mehran-rud are enough!
―Khaqani

Tabriz Monuments

"Khaneh-i Mashrutiyat" (The House of the Constitutional movement), as it appears today in Tabriz.
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"Khaneh-i Mashrutiyat" (The House of the Constitutional movement), as it appears today in Tabriz.

Museums

Major Hotels

Famous Tabrizis

[[Image:Tabriz-poets.jpg|right|thumb|290px|Monument of the Poets in Tabriz. Dozens of Iranian poets are commemorated here. Many of Irans famous poets and politicians come from this region.

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Education

Sample of Tabrizi traditional food. Seen here is what is called "Kufteh Tabrizi".
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Sample of Tabrizi traditional food. Seen here is what is called "Kufteh Tabrizi".
Tabriz University is one of Iran's most prestigious schools of higher education. Tabriz is also where Tabriz National Library is located. A list of the colleges and universities in the city follows:

  1. Sahand University of Technology
  2. Tabriz University of Medical Sciences
  3. [Tabriz University of Tarbiat Moallem]
  4. University of Tabriz ([website])
  5. [Islamic Azad University of Tabriz]
  6. [Tabriz Islamic Arts University]
  7. [University College of Nabi Akram]

References

See also

External links

 

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