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.

Christianity in Syria

The Assad regime afforded protections to Syria’s diverse minority faiths: assorted Christian denominations, Alawi Shiʿa (Nusayri), Druze, and Twelver Shiʿa. The Barbarians are inside the gates; the future of Syrian Christianity is uncertain. A photoblog, with commentary on Christianity in Damascus and Ma‘aloula.

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.

Syria Travelogue (Part 1)

Writing about political and military developments in the Middle East has distracted me from writing about my primary interests: travels, peoples, cultures, religion, and history. A short photo essay about my student days in Damascus in the 2000s when I studied Arabic at Damascus University

Fortifications of the Islamic World: Herat’s ‘Kartid Wall’

Pre-modern cities of the Islamic World often had a perimeter wall to protect the city’s suburbs from predators seeking to plunder the city and seize men, women, and children to be used as slaves or sold in slave markets. Herat, Iran (now part of Afghanistan), had such a perimeter wall

A Russian Proxy War in the Middle East?

An agreement between Iran and Russia is being finalized. The Kremlin is chafing at U.S. support for Ukraine. Russia is likely to support Iran in a ‘proxy war’ in the Middle East. A Russian think-tank said, for payback, Russia may support a ‘hybrid war far from its own borders.’

IRGC and Shiʿa Militias in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon: ‘Why We Fight’

The essay examines the four stages of developments in the Middle East that gave rise to Shiʿa militias in Lebanon Iraq, and Syria, with support from Iran; and their ultimate goal, as expressed by Sayyid Nasrallah of Hezbollah in his famous ‘T’ hand signal (see image), which indicates that ‘Americans can leave the Mideast vertically, leave horizontally.’

U.S. Airstrikes in Iraq & Syria

What is the endgame for the U.S. in striking ‘Iran-backed’ Shiʿa militias in Iraq and Syria? Some 85 ‘targets’ were struck 2/3 February 2024 (around midnight, Syria/Iraq time). The strikes are a response to the 29 January 2024 drone strike in Area 55—the 55 km2 area in Syria that adjoins Iraq and Jordan. Area 55 … Continue reading U.S. Airstrikes in Iraq & Syria →

Saintly Infrastructures of Medieval Islam: The Shrine at Torbat-e Jam

The importance of Christian monasteries to the socio-economic no less than the religious life of medieval Europe has long been recognized. Far less well-known is the comparable role of Muslim shrine complexes in providing a socio-economic infrastructure for their surrounding communities. This was especially the case in the eastern Islamic lands comprising what is today … Continue reading Saintly Infrastructures of Medieval Islam: The Shrine at Torbat-e Jam →