Kashan: UNESCO’s Creative City of Architecture

On UNESCO World Cities Day 2025, Kashan was recognized by UNESCO as a “creative city of architecture,” joining cities like Rome, Paris, and Barcelona. Kashan is “celebrated for its sustainable architecture and rich civilizational heritage.” But Kashan is renowned in history not just for Iranian-Islamic architecture, but also for Islamic art, magnificent silk and cotton woven carpets, and ceramics (Kashan ware). Survey of an ancient and thriving Iranian jewel, accompanied by videos, photos, and links for further readings.

Tamerlane and the Irascible Holy Man

Zayn al-Din Taybadi (d. 791/1389) is a captivating mystic of Mongol Iran. He was an irascible man, remembered by historians for his rudeness to Tamerlane (Temür; d. 807/1405). He in effect told Tamerlane (as New Yorkers like to say), to “take a long walk on a short pier.” This is the story.

Fortifications of the Pre-Modern Islamic World: Introduction

Introduction to a series on fortifications of the Islamic east, and the changing character of war. In this first post, a brief look at the layout of Fort Juwayn, Khurasan (a province split between Iran and Afghanistan), as it stood in 1884