Kerman

Kerman
کرمان
Kerman (Iran)
Kerman
Kerman
Coordinates:
Country Flag of Iran.svg Iran
Province Kerman
Elevation 1,755 m (5,758 ft)
Population (2005)
 - Total 533,799
  estimate
Time zone IRST (UTC+3:30)

Kerman (Persian: کرمان) is a city in Iran. It is the center of Kerman province. Located in a large and flat plain, this city is located 1,076 km (669 mi) south of Tehran, capital of Iran.

Kerman city had an estimated population of 533,799 in 2005.[1]

Contents

Etymology

Kerman was mentioned by the Greeks by the name Karamani. Historical documents also refer to Kerman as Karmania, Kermania and Zhermanya.[2] The city was probably founded by the Sassanid king Ardashir I in the 3rd century, and for this reason it was called "Ardasheer Khoreh". The Muslim Arabs called this place Bardeseer or Bardesheer and the Iranians used to call it Guasheer.

History

The Masjid gate through which Agha Mohammad Khan entered the city.

It is believed, that Kerman has been founded as early as the 3rd century by Ardeshir I, founder of the Sassanian dynasty.[2] In Islamic time, Kerman was one of the important cultural centres of Iran.[2]

Kerman was under the Seljuk Turks in the 11th and 12th cent., but remained virtually independent, conquering Oman and Fars.[3]

When Marco Polo visited the city in 1271 it had become a major trade emporium linking the Persian Gulf with Khorasan and Central Asia.[4] Subsequently, however, the city was sacked many times by various invaders.

Kerman was expanded rapidly during the Safavid Dynasty. Carpets and rugs were exported to England and Germany during this period.[5]

In 1793 Lotf Ali Khan defeated the Qajars and in 1794 captured Kerman. But soon, he was besieged in Kerman for six months by Agha Mohammad Khan. When the city fell to Agha Mohammad Khan, angered by the popular support that Lotf Ali Khan had received, all the male inhabitants were killed or blinded, and a pile was made out of 20,000 detached eyeballs and poured in front of the victorious Agha Muhammad Khan.[6] The women and children were sold into slavery, and the city was destroyed over ninety days.

The present city of Kerman was rebuilt in the nineteenth century to the northwest of the old city, but it did not recover until the twentieth century.

Geography

Kerman is located on a high margin of Kavir-e lut (Lut Desert) in the central south of Iran.

Climate

The city's many districts are surrounded by mountains which bring variety to Kerman's year round weather pattern, thus the northern part of the city is located in an arid desert area, while the highland of the southern part of the city enjoys a more moderate climate. The mean elevation of the city is about 1755 m above sea level.

Kerman city has a moderate and the average annual rainfall is 135 mm. Because it is located close to the Kavir-e lut, Kerman has hot summers and in the spring it often has violent sand storms. Otherwise, its climate is relatively cool.[5]

Geological Characteristics

For the Iranian Paleontologists, Kerman has always been considered a fossil paradise. Finding new dinosaur footprints in 2005 has now revealed new hopes for Paleontologists to better understand the history of this area.[7][8]

Economy

Sassanid era horse head Found in Kerman

Carpet weaving is one of the main industries of the city, and the carpets produced there are renowned internationally.[4] Carpet weaving is a very old tradition in Kerman. The oldest carpet discovered in Kerman, belongs to about 500 years ago, which proves the precedence of weaving in this city.[9] Cotton textiles and goats-wool shawls are also manufactured.[2]

A number of modern establishments such as textile mills and brickworks also have been constructed. The province's mineral wealth includes copper and coal.[4]

Culture

The archeological ancient city of Jiroft is located south of Kerman.

Demography

Most of the population of Kerman are Shi'a Muslims; But Kerman also has a small but culturally significant Zoroastrian minority.

The population of the city in 1996 was 385,000 and the current population is 533,799.[1]

Government

Politics in Kerman are influenced by the former President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, his brother and Vice President Mohammad Hashemi, and the Vice President Hossein Marashi, both from the nearby Rafsanjan.

Colleges and universities

Kerman has an abundance of architectural relics of antiquity.

Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman is one of Iran's leading technological institutions. Other universities are:

Transportation

Kerman is on the Tehran, Bandar Abbas and Zahedan route. Kerman Airport is counted as one of the main airports which has daily & weekly flights to Tehran, Ahwaz, Yazd, Esfahan, Bandar Abbas, Mashhad and Shiraz.[5] Also the Trans Iranian Railway passes through this city.[5]

Famous people from Kerman

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cities in Iran: 2005 Population Estimates
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Travel in Kerman - Iran - History - WorldTravelGate.net
  3. ↑ "Kerman". The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Columbia University Press (2008).
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Pourshariati, Parvaneh. "Kerman". Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa. Gale Group, Inc.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Iranian Cities: Kerman
  6. ↑ Hasan Pir Nia, A. Eghbal Ashtiani, History of Persia (Tarikh-i Iran), ISBN 9646895166, Tehran, 2003, p.655
  7. ↑ Dinosaur Footprints Moulded In Kerman
  8. ↑ Iran Daily
  9. ↑ Kerman Rug (Iran): History

External links

— Masjed-e Jā'meh-e Kerman: (1)
— Moshtāgh-Ali Shāh: (1), (2), (3)
— Gonbad-e Jabalieh: (1)
— Shāh Ne'matollah Vali (in Māhān): (1), (2)
— Bāgh-e Shāzdeh (in Māhān): (1)