| Kerman كرمان |
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| — city — | |
| Kerman, Iran | |
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Kerman
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Iran |
| Province | Kerman |
| County | Kerman |
| Bakhsh | Central |
| Elevation | 1,755 m (5,758 ft) |
| Population (2006) | |
| • Total | 496,684 |
| Time zone | IRST (UTC+3:30) |
| • Summer (DST) | IRDT (UTC+4:30) |
Kerman (Persian: كرمان, also Romanized as Kermān and Kirman; also known as Carmana)[1] is a city in and capital of Kerman Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 496,684, in 127,806 families.[2] Located in a large and flat plain, this city is located 1,076 km (669 mi) south of Tehran, the capital of Iran.
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Kerman was founded as a defensive outpost, with the name Behdesīr, by Ardeshir I, founder of the Sassanid Empire, in the 3rd century AD. After the Battle of Nahāvand in 642, the city came under Muslim rule. At first the city's isolation allowed Kharijites and Zoroastrians to thrive there, but the Kharijites were wiped out in 698, and the population was mostly Muslim by 725. Already in the eighth century the city was famous for its manufacture of cashmere wool shawls and other textiles. The Abbasid Caliphate's authority over the region was weak, and power passed in the tenth century to the Buyid dynasty, which maintained control even when the region and city fell to Mahmud of Ghazna in the late tenth century. The name Kerman was adopted at some point in the tenth century.[3]
Kerman was under the Seljuk Turks in the 11th and 12th centuries, but remained virtually independent, conquering Oman and Fars.[4] When Marco Polo visited the city in 1271 it had become a major trade emporium linking the Persian Gulf with Khorasan and Central Asia.[5] Subsequently, however, the city was sacked many times by various invaders. Kerman expanded rapidly during the Safavid Dynasty. Carpets and rugs were exported to England and Germany during this period.[6]
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.[7] 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 19th century to the northwest of the old city, but the city did not recover to its former size until the 20th century.
Kerman is located on a high margin of Kavir-e Lut (Lut Desert) in the central south of Iran.
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 climate 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.[6]
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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.[8][9]
Economy of Kerman is mostly based on farming and nut farming. Sarchashmeh Copper mine is the second biggest copper mine in the world after the one located in Chile. Pistachio is another important source of economy in Kerman. Kerman Province is the biggest producer of pistachio in Iran and all over the world.
Carpet weaving is one of the main industries of the city, and the carpets produced there are renowned internationally. [5] 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.[10] Among the most famous Kerman carpet producers of the 19th & 20th centuries include Costigian, Ghastili and Dilmaghani[11], the latter still in operation & considered an important connection of 19th and 20th century production of carpets in Kerman[12]. Cotton textiles and goats-wool shawls are also manufactured.[13]
A number of modern establishments such as textile mills and brickworks also have been constructed. The province's mineral wealth includes copper and coal.[5]
The archeological ancient city of Jiroft is located south of Kerman.
Most of the population of Kerman are Persians and Shi'a Muslims. But Kerman also has a small but culturally significant Zoroastrian minority. Balochis living in Kerman as the second largest ethnicity and are predominantly Sunni.
The population of the city in 1996 was 385,000 and the current population is 533,799.[14]
Politics in Kerman are influenced by the former President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, his brother and Vice President Mohammad Hashemi Rafsanjani and Hossein Marashi, both from the nearby Rafsanjan.
Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman is one of Iran's leading technological institutions.
Kerman is on the Tehran, Bandar Abbas and Zahedan route. Kerman Airport is counted as one of the main airports which has daily and weekly flights to Tehran, Ahwaz, Yazd, Esfahan, Bandar Abbas, Mashhad and Shiraz.[6] Also the Trans-Iranian Railway passes through this city.[6]
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