A History of Herat

This book narrates the history of Herat, from the Mongol invasions of Persia (Iran) under Chingiz Khan, beginning in 1218, to the rejuvenated city of Herat’s capitulation to Tamerlane (or Temür) in 1381. It examines why the Mongol Empire rebuilt Herat through their Tajik (Persian) loyalists, and analyzes the roles of Persians and Mongols in devising fortifications, restoring commercial and cultural edifices, and resuscitating economic and cultural activities in Khurasan. Herat became an important political, cultural and economic centre of the eastern Islamic world. The post-Mongol age during which an autochthonous Tajik dynasty, the Kartids, ruled this vast region, set the foundations for Herat’s Timurid era splendors The book is divided in two distinct parts: military-political history in Part 1; social and economic history in Part 2. Part 1 provides the context for Part 2. Events and dates from Part 1 are cross-referenced in Part 2, but repetition is avoided. Part One: Political-military history. Divided into three periods: the years 615-76/1218-78, 677-729/1278-1329, and 729-83/1329-81. Each period is preceded by a prolegomenon. Part Two: Social-economic history. It focuses on revitalization of agricultural and hydrological systems, commercial development, and patronage of Islamic institutions. It the importance of security to economic and cultural renaissance is emphasizes, showing how the Kartids built fortifications and fostered the development of a network of forts in order to protect highways, and permit the free movement of peoples and merchandise.