From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (October 2007)

This article or section needs to be wikified to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please help improve this article with relevant internal links. (October 2007)

The quality of this article or section may be compromised by "peacock terms". You can help Wikipedia by removing peacock terms.

Tabriz تبریز
Tabriz City Hall, built in 1934, by Arfa'ol molk, with the aid of German engineers.
Nickname: The City of Firsts, The city without beggar
Tabriz
Coordinates: 38°05′N 46°18′E / 38.083, 46.3
Country	Iran
Province	East Azarbaijan
Population (2005)
- Total	1,600,000
	estimate
Time zone	IRST (UTC+3:30)

Tabriz (Azeri:Təbriz and Persian: تبریز); is the largest city in north-western Iran with an estimated population of 1,597,319 (2007 est.)^[1]. Tabriz is situated north of the volcanic cone of Sahand south of the Eynali mountain. It is the capital of East Azarbaijan Province.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Medieval History 1.3 Contemporary History 1.4 Historical Timeline 1.5 Excavation Sites 1.6 Damaged Historical Sites 2 Governing system 3 Climate 4 Culture 4.1 Language 4.2 Literature 4.3 Art of Rug 4.4 Music 4.5 Food and Confectionary 5 Tourism 5.1 Museums 5.2 Monuments 5.3 Major Hotels 6 Transportation 6.1 International and Intercity 6.2 Inside City 6.3 Metro Network (Subway Urban Train Network) 7 Education & Research 7.1 Universities & Research Centres 7.2 Famous Schools 7.3 Religious Schools 8 Libraries 9 Sport 10 Famous Tabrizians 10.1 Sufi: 10.2 Politician, Reformist: 10.3 Poet, Writer: 10.4 Scientist: 10.5 Clegry: 10.6 Artist: 10.7 Other 11 Major Industries 11.1 Heavy Industries 11.2 Major Chocolate Factories 12 See also 13 Sister Cities 13.1 Photo Gallery of Tabriz 14 Notes 15 References 16 External links

The founding of Tabriz is shrouded in mystery. According to various sources^[2][3][4][5], the city was a site of the Biblical Garden of Eden. The Earliest explicit mention of Tabriz occurs in the Assyrian king Sargon II's epigraph in 714 BCE^[6]. Later references date back as early as the Sassanian period^[5]. According to some sources^[7], including Encyclopedia Britannica^[8], the name Tabriz is said to derive from "tap-riz" ("causing heat to flow" in Iranian languages), from the many thermal springs in the area. Other sources ^[9][10] claim that in A.D. 246, to avenge his brother's death, king Khosraw I of Armenia defeated Ardashir I of Sassanids and changed the name of the city from Shahistan to Tauris, deriving from "ta-vrezh" ("this revenge" in Grabar). In A.D. 297, it became the capital of Tiridates III, king of Armenia ^[11].

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^[11].

After the Mongol invasion, Tabriz came to eclipse Maragheh as the later Ilkhanid capital of Azarbaijan until sacked by Tamerlane in 1392^[5]. In 1295, Ghazan Khan, the Mongol ruler of Persia, 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^[12], 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 few months to 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 Ottoman Empire, Russia, central Asia, and India. Later, the city was again occupied (1724) by the Ottomans, and it was held by Russia in 1828.

Tabriz was the city where the Constitutional Revolution of Iran started^[13] in 1906 and where its leaders, Sattar Khan and Bagher Khan came from. An American who died defending the Constitutional Revolution, Howard Baskerville, is buried in Tabriz.

Because of the location of Tabriz (as a gate to the west for Iran), many signs of modern life in Iran have first appeared in this city. Because of this, Iranians have described Tabriz as a city of 'first'.

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 Bigjeh-Khani were tar specialists from this city.

After World War II, the Soviets set up the communist Azerbaijan People's Government in North Western Iran with its capital at Tabriz. The new communist government, under the leadership of Jafar Pishevari, held power for a year from 1946, then was retaken by Iran (on 1947) after the forced Soviet withdrawal.

• 4 BCE: It is the capital of Atropatene, named after Iranian governor of the province (appointed by Alexander the Great).
• 297: 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.
• 1296: The Mongol Il-Khan Mahmud Ghazan 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.

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. The construction company had hidden the finding for several months. Finally, the site was revealed by one of the workers who was involved at the construction site. Analyses has shown that the background of the graves to be more than 2000 years old.

There are nomerious historical sites inside Tabriz that were damaged by natural disasters or by human hand. Some of the most famous samples sites are listed below:

• There were some hills that have constructed with the ashes produced by Zardostans before Islam. They have remained up to just few years before revolution on 1979. They have destroyed before revolution during an agricaltural development project.
• Large parts of Tabriz Ark Castel, whole of Tabriz National Library Building and whole of Tabriz City Theater Hall, has been damaged for making new Friday Mosque (1981).
• Shanb Ghazan Building (Palace of Mongol Kings), Damaged by Tabriz Municipality before revolution (1979).
• Tabriz City Gates, 3 of 4 main entrance gates damaged by Tabriz Municipality before revolution (1979), Currently one of them exist behind Ghari Bridge.
• Shahgoli Palace building has been reconstructed completely by City Municipality.
• Blue Mosque Building has been damaged completely by earthquake (currently, it has been reconstructed as its first shape) on 1780.
• Bagh-e Shomal Palace has been damaged completely by City Municipality.

The city's most responsible person is mayor who is elected by municipal board of the city. According to the Iranian laws the municipal board is periodically elected by the city residents.

Tabriz City Hall (Saat Tower building) is used as the Municipal central office.

Here is the List of Tabriz Mayors.

Dry hot Summers and Snowy cold Winters. Daytime temperatures usually reach at least 30 degrees Celsius (high 80s Fahrenheit) in June and July and may drop well below freezing in January and February. The weather is almost windy. The Rain rarly occurs between June and August. The climate compares well with that of Denver, Colorado.

The predominant language in the city is Azerbaijani (Azeri Turkic), it is one of the branches of Western (oghuz) Turkic languages, also almost all inhabitants of the city can speak and understand Persian as well.

See also: Oghuz languages, Turkic languages

The music and folksongs of Tabriz are popular and traditions have a long history among its people. Prominent Iranian Azeri poet Mohammad Hossein Shahriar was born in Tabriz. The handicrafts in the Bazaar of Tabriz, and in particular the Tabriz rug is famous world-wide. The culture, social values, language and the music is a mixture of what exists in rest of Iran as well as the.

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:

ساربانا بار بگشا ز اشتران
شهر تبريز است و کوی دلبران

Oh Sārbān, have camels' cargo unloaded,
For Tabriz is neighborhood of the beloved.
―Molana

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 is the number one center for production of the famous Turkish-Persian Rug.

Nowaday Tabrizian carpets are the most wanted in world markets, having many customers in western countries from Europe to California.

Tabrizian rugs and carpets usually have ivory backgrounds with blue, rose, and indigo motifs. Rugs and carpets often have very symmetrical and balanced designs. They usually have a single medallion that is surrounded with vines and palmettos and are of excellent quality.

Tabrizian modern rugs are in many different designs and colors.

The classical music of Azerbaijan is called mugam (more accurately spelled muğam), and is usually a suite with poetry and instrumental interludes. The sung poetry sometimes includes tahrir segments, which use a form of throat singing similar to yodelling. The poetry is typically about divine love and is most 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.[2]

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. Their songs are semi-improvised around a common base.

See also:Music of Azerbaijan

Kufteh Tabrizi is a special food prepared in Tabriz. Some restaurants offer Kufteh Tabrizi on their menu but the quality is not as good as when it is prepared by Tabriz families at home.

Tabriz is also famous for its delicious cookies, some of which are Tabriz specialities, including Ghorabiye, Eris, Nogha and many others. 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.)

• 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

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. The Blue Mosque of Tabriz (مسجد کبود Gouy-Masjed) is another important monument in the city. Here is a list of city's monuments:

• Ark-e Tabriz
• Shrine in Eynali Mountain
• Grand Bazaar of Tabriz
• Goy Masjid (Blue Mosque)
• Jameh Mosque of Tabriz, located at raste-koucheh
• Saheb ol Amr
• The Amir Nezam House
• The Behnam House (School of Architecture, Islamic Art University of Tabriz)
• The House of Mashrouteh (constitution)
• The House of Bolourchian
• Charm Sazi-e Khosravi (Faculty of Applied Arts)
• Seyed Hamzeh Grave
• Maqbaratoshoara (Tumb of Poets)
• Saat Tower (Tabriz City Hall)
• Tabriz Fire Fighting Tower
• 2-Kamal Tomb,in Abbasi street
• Tabriz Railway Station
• Tarbiyat street
• Bagh Golestan park
• Shah Gholi (Pool Of King) park
• Baghlar Baghi park
• Ghari Bridge, 2 Historical Bridges on Mehran Rud
• Armenian church of Saint Mary
• Armenian church of Adontist
• Catholic church of Tabriz
• Asurian church
• Aji chai Bridge,an old bridge on the Aji-chai river, beside the airport street
• Kandovan Touristy Village

• Hotel Pars (Hotel El Gholi) (International, 5 star) in Shah Goli
• Hotel Shahryar (International, 5 star) in Shah Gholi Street
• Hotel Gostaresh (4 star) in Abresan Sq.
• Hotel Tabriz ( International, 4 star ) in Abresan 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 Drvazeh Tehran
• Kandovan Tourism Cliff (Rocky) Hotel (5 star), located at Kandovan touristy village. It is the first of its kind in Iran and the second in the world after Turkey's rocky hotel.
• and many hostels (with low cost) in Ferdowsi Street

From ancient times Tabriz was known as a transportation center between West and East. Also, it was located on the ancient Silk Road.

Currently Tabriz is linked to the world by Sento International Road, Iran Railway and Tabriz International Airport.

Tabriz has general bus and taxi systems. There are also some private groups who serves as Tele Taxi's. Currently Tabriz metro and tramway system is under construction.

Tabriz does not have a completed subway train network at the moment. The government of Iran had planned to finish 6km of line No.1 of subway urban train network of Tabriz in 2006 but they could not reach to this goal because of financial problems.

See also: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=382628

Tabriz University is one of Iran's most prestigious schools of higher education. A list of the universities and research centers in the city follows:

• University of Tabriz
• Tabriz University of Medical Sciences
• Sahand University of Technology
• Azarbaijan University of Tarbiat Moallem
• Tabriz Arts University
• Elmi Karbordi University of Tabriz
• Islamic Azad University of Tabriz
• University College of Nabi Akram
• Seraj Higher Education Institute
• Jahad Daneshgahi(ACECR) Higher Eduction Institute,East Azarbaijan branch , located at Jaam Jam Street
• Payameh noor University of Tabriz
• Khajeh Rashid University
• 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

• 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. Currently it is divided into three separate high schools.

• Vahdat Technical College is another famous school in Tabriz. It was developed by the Germans during World War II. The main building has the shape of an A (the first letter of Germany in German Language).

• Ferdowsi High School is one of the largest and most prominent academic high schools in Tabriz.

• Teez Houshan School (SAMPAD/NODET) middle and high schools established in 1989.

• Valiiasr religious school
• Talebiieh Islamic Sciences School

• Tabriz National Library ( Central Library of Tabriz ) was the biggest library in Tabriz. It has been reconstructed during last decade. It has numerous pieces of hand written Iranian literature.

• Tarbiat Library.

• Library of Helal Ahmar.

• Library of Farhangsara Tabriz.

• Library of Shahid Motahhari.

• Library of Shahryar.

Tabrizi people are fans of soccer. The city is the site of three Iranian major soccer teams:

• Machine Sazi F.C.
• Teraktor Sazi F.C.
• 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

• Shams Tabrizi
• Pir Zehtab Tabrizi

• 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, poet and famous politician
• 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

• Qatran Tabrizi, poet
• Homam Tabrizi, poet
• Parvin E'tesami, poetess
• Mohammad Hoseyn Behjat Tabrizi (Shahriyar), 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, writter, novelist, and political activist

• Javad Heyat, one of Iranian Pioneers of Cardiac Surgery
• Mohsen Hashtroodi, Mathematician

• Allameh Tabatabaei, one of the most prominent thinkers of contemporary Shia Islam
• Allameh Mohammad Taghi Jafari, philosopher , thinker

• Farhad Fakhredini, musician, Conductor of National Orchestra
• Kamal Tabrizi, movie producer

• Karim Bagheri, footballer
• Ghader Mizbani, Cyclist
• Ahad Kazemi, Cyclist

For a complete list see: List of people from Tabriz

Tabriz is one of Iran's most important industrial cities. Its products include cement, machine tools, vehicles, petrochemical and many other industrial products. Some of the major industrial complexes in the city are listed below:

• Machine Sazi-e-Tabriz , Producer of machine tools
• Iran Tractor Manufacturer Company (ITMCO) , Producer of various types of vehicles
• Tabriz Petrochemical Complex , One of main pertrochemical companies in the country
• Tabriz Oil Refinery Complex , The main oil refinery in the north west of country
• Iran Khodro , Tabriz , It is a branch of Iran Khodro Indistrial Group, producer of a variety cars
• Rakhsh Khodro Diesel,Tabriz , Producer of various types of heavy vehicles and cars
• ‎‎I.D.E.M. Co. Iranian Diesel Engine Manufacturing Co. , The leading manufacturer of diesel engines in middle east
• Charkheshgar Co. , The leading manufacturer of different types of auto gearbox in Iran
• Motogen Co. , The leading manufacturer of different type of electromotors in Iran
• Sahand Forklift Truck Co. , Manufacturer of different type of Forklift Trucks
• Azarbaijan Glass industrial Company, Producer of any kind of standard glasses
• Tabriz Wire and Cable Co. (Simcat) , Producer of power wire and cables

Tabriz food industries, specially in chocolate manufacturing, are famous. That could be the reason to honor the city as Chocolate City of Iran also. Some of the most famous chocolate industries of inside the city are:

• Aidin (Dadash Baradar Co.)
• ANATA (Nejati Industrial Group)
• Shirin Asal co.
• Chichak (Iran chocolate Co.)
• Aysuda (Shokouh Shad Shanjan Co.)

• Azarbaijan
• Azerbaijani literature
• Azerbaijani people
• Iranian Azeris
• Oghuz Turks
• Constitutional Revolution

• Baku, Azerbaijan
• Istanbul, Turkey
• Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

---

For a more extensive photo gallery of Tabriz see Tabriz City Photo Gallery.

Tabriz City Hall (Saat Tower)	An alley in Tabriz Bazaar	Monuments of the Poet (Maqbarat-o-shoara)	Arg, before revolution
Shah Gholi at winter	The Amir Nezam House	The Behnam House	Khaneh-i Mashrutiyat (The House of the Constitutional)
View of Khaghani Park behind Blue Mosque of Tabriz	Measurement Museum Building (in the back of Saat Tower)	Shabestan of Friday Mosque of Tabriz	Yangin (Tabriz Fire Fighting Tower)

• North, S.J.R., Guide to Biblical Iran, Rome 1956, p. 50
• http://www.iranchamber.com
• Editorial Board, East Azarbaijan Geography, Iranian Ministry of Education, 2000 (High School Text Book in Persian)

• Tabriz Historical Buildings Virtual Library - Related to Tabriz University
• Tabriz Information
• Tabriz Culture & Information Center
• Tabriz City
• Tabriz from Encyclopaedia of the Orient
• Tabriz Municipal Office
• tabrizinfo.com
• Tabriz Municipality News Agency
• Tabriz Metro
• Hundreds of Tabriz Pictures

Coordinates: 38°05′N, 46°17′E

• Bahram Moshiri's brief talk on Azarbaijan. [1].

v • d • e Major monuments in Tabriz
Amir Nezam House • Ark-e Tabriz • Bagh-e Golestan • Bazaar of Tabriz • Behnam House • Blue Mosque • Charm Sazi-e Khosravi • Eynali • Ghari Bridge • Kandovan • Maqbaratoshoara • Saat Tower • Saheb ol Amr • Saied Hamzeh Grave • Shah-goli • Tabriz Constitution House • Tabriz Fire Fighting Tower • Tabriz Railway Station • Tarbiyat street