This article is about the history of Nishapur during 3rd century to 21st centuries.
The history of Nishapur begins around the Sasanian dynasty. Nishapur was One of the greatest cities in medieval ages, located in the eastern province of Khorasan. Founded during the Sasanian dynasty (and given the title of New Shapur) the city became the capital of the Tahirid dynasty in the 9th century and reached the height of its prosperity under the Samanids in the 10th century, when it served as the seat of the governor and commander in chief of the province.
Nishapur retained its importance under the Seljuqs, after its occupation by the first sultan of this Turkic dynasty in 1037. It was sacked by the Oghuz in 1153 and damaged in a series of earthquakes in the 12th and 13th centuries, yet it remained an active urban centre until its utter destruction by the Mongols in 1221.
During Sasanian dynasty and medieval ages Nishapur quarter (Persian: ربع نیشابور), including Khorasan Province and Ahal Province Nowadays, by Nishapur city Capiral.
There is difference between archaeologists and historians about civilization and urbanization in Nishapur and the region. Sassanid Empire and Shapur I made link Nishapur to history, historians believe. But archaeologists believe Shapur I rebuilt Nishapur in a new structure.
Abarshahr was a satrapy (province) of the Sassanid Empire.Cities in the region were Candac, Artacauan, and Apameia, and Pushang (founded by Shapur I) and Capital was Nishapur.in fact Abarshar was last and main name of Nishapur during Sassanid Empire and Rashidun Caliphate.The capital was a vital point of administration and of communications toward Bactria, India, and Sagistan. The region was involved in the Indian and Chinese trade.Its governor bore the unique title of kanarang.[1]
Nishapur was conquered by the Muslims,Without War, during the caliphate of Umar.Caliph appointed Ahnaf Ibn Qais to the chief command. Ahnaf led the Muslim army from Isfahan. From Isfahan two routes led to Khorasan. The main route was via Rayy and Nishapur.The people of Nishapur did not choose to fight and surrendered on the condition of paying a tribute.
Having conquered the region around Nishapur the Muslim force advanced to the main city of Nishapur. The city was divided into four sectors and each sector was under a Persian chief. These chiefs decided to defend the city. They shut themselves in the city and closed the gates. The Muslims invested the city. The siege dragged on for some days, and the Muslims intensified the blockade. In the meantime the Persian chiefs quarreled among themselves. One of the chiefs entered into negotiations with the Muslims. He offered to open one of the gates for the Muslim army to enter provided he was granted immunity. The Muslims accepted the offer. One night one of the gates of the city was opened whereby the Muslim army entered the city. The Persians were taken by surprise, and the Muslims became the masters of Nishapur. After consolidating their position at Nishapur the Muslims conquered other cities around Nishapur. These included: Pusht, Ashband, Rukh, Zar, Khaf, Osparain and Arghian.[2]
Abu Muslim was confirmed as governor of Khorasan, with his capital at Nishapur. He seems to have initiated a huge building programme which first stimulated the growth of the city. Nishapur increases in importance, and two ‘Abbasids were governors here before becoming caliphs. It was the governor of Khurasan (‘Ali ibn Isa) who presented to Harun al-Rashid the large gift of Chinese imperial porcelains (see Abbasid Ceramics Section), and this demonstrates the strategic importance of the province on trade routes[3]
The Tahirid Dynasty, was an Iranian Persian dynasty that ruled from 820 to 872 over the northeastern part of Greater Iran, in the region of Khorasan (parts that are presently in Iran (Persia), Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan). The Tahirid capital was Merv and was then moved to Nishapur. The Tahirid dynasty is considered to be the first independent dynasty from the Abbasid caliphate established in Khorasan.
Although nominally subject to the Abbasid caliphate in Baghdad, the Tahirid rulers were effectively independent. The dynasty was founded by Tahir ibn Husayn, a leading general in the service of the Abbasid caliph al-Ma'mun. Tahir's military victories were rewarded with the gift of lands in the east of Persia, which were subsequently extended by his successors as far as the borders of India. Tahirid influence extended to Baghdad when the Abbasids granted them the military affairs in mesopotamia.[4]
In 872, the Tahirids were replaced by the Saffarids who expanded their sphere of influence up into Khurasan, from Sistan in the south. They also made Nishapur their capital and rebuilt the Tahirid palace, only to be overrun early in the C10th by their powerful eastern neighbours, the Samanids. This dynasty had been placed in power in Transoxiana by the caliph Al-Ma'mun, and ruled first from Samarqand and then moved to Bukhara. After defeating the Saffarids their "empire", with nominal sanction from the Abbasids, extended from India to Iraq. Khurasan was thus an international entrepôt, with merchants coming not only from Iraq, India and Egypt, but also from Russia, and Vikings from Scandinavia to trade with the Bulghars and Khazars on the Caspian Sea.
After the husband of Genghis Khan's daughter, Taghachar, was killed at Nishapur in 1221 by a Nishapur Muslim border guard, she ordered the death of all in the city (~1.7 million was killed), and the skulls of men, women, and children were piled in pyramids by the Mongols.
Nasir Khusraw saw Nishapur and wrote about it in Safarnama.
Abraham Valentine Williams Jackson in "From Constantinople to the home of Omar Khayyam" explain ending of his Travel in Nishapur.
Bowls including bold black inscriptions in the so-called kufic angular calligraphy were apparently produced in the important ceramic centers of Nishapur in eastern Iran, and Afrasiyab, or Old Samarqand, in present-day Uzbekistan. The text often contains a proverb in Arabic or, as in this case, a series of wishes: "Blessing, happiness, prosperity, good health, and success."
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