Rise of Shiraz and Decline of Istakhr; A Study of the Context and Factors of the Transformation of the Political-Administrative Center of Fars in the Early Islamic Centuries.
1
Iran. Persian Gulf University. Bushehr. Faculty of Literature. Department of History
2
Assistant Professor, Department of History, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, Iran.
10.22111/jhr.2026.53109.3823
Abstract
Archaeological discoveries and historical documents date the antiquity of Shiraz back to the Achaemenid period. However, until the end of the Sassanid era, Shiraz remained a small settlement with royal pavilions, while Istakhr served as the administrative center of Fars province. With the advent of Islam, Shiraz gained attention as an Islamic city and later developed into the great and important seat of the Buyid dynasty. The present article aims to examine how this political-administrative transformation occurred in Fars province during the early Islamic centuries. This study adopts a descriptive-analytical approach, drawing upon both written sources and archaeological findings to investigate the issue. The findings indicate that this transformation bears a reciprocal relationship with the decline of Istakhr. The discussion can be categorized under two main factors: the geographical and locational advantages of Shiraz, and Istakhr’s refusal to accept Arab rulers. Accordingly, Shiraz was selected for its military function during the Islamic conquests, and the attention of the Umayyad, Abbasid, and Saffarid governments led to population growth and the emergence of administrative and political elements in the city. With Shiraz being chosen as the capital of the Buyid dynasty, its rapid growth occurred across various dimensions. Dilapidated buildings were restored, the water supply.
Mousavi, M. A. S. and Peyghbari, H. (2026). Rise of Shiraz and Decline of Istakhr; A Study of the Context and Factors of the Transformation of the Political-Administrative Center of Fars in the Early Islamic Centuries.. Journal of Historical Researches of Iran and Islam, (), -. doi: 10.22111/jhr.2026.53109.3823
MLA
Mousavi, M. A. S. , and Peyghbari, H. . "Rise of Shiraz and Decline of Istakhr; A Study of the Context and Factors of the Transformation of the Political-Administrative Center of Fars in the Early Islamic Centuries.", Journal of Historical Researches of Iran and Islam, , , 2026, -. doi: 10.22111/jhr.2026.53109.3823
HARVARD
Mousavi, M. A. S., Peyghbari, H. (2026). 'Rise of Shiraz and Decline of Istakhr; A Study of the Context and Factors of the Transformation of the Political-Administrative Center of Fars in the Early Islamic Centuries.', Journal of Historical Researches of Iran and Islam, (), pp. -. doi: 10.22111/jhr.2026.53109.3823
CHICAGO
M. A. S. Mousavi and H. Peyghbari, "Rise of Shiraz and Decline of Istakhr; A Study of the Context and Factors of the Transformation of the Political-Administrative Center of Fars in the Early Islamic Centuries.," Journal of Historical Researches of Iran and Islam, (2026): -, doi: 10.22111/jhr.2026.53109.3823
VANCOUVER
Mousavi, M. A. S., Peyghbari, H. Rise of Shiraz and Decline of Istakhr; A Study of the Context and Factors of the Transformation of the Political-Administrative Center of Fars in the Early Islamic Centuries.. Journal of Historical Researches of Iran and Islam, 2026; (): -. doi: 10.22111/jhr.2026.53109.3823
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