Mehrdad Ghodrat-Dizaji - Profile on Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Selected Papers by Mehrdad Ghodrat-Dizaji

Research paper thumbnail of “Administrative Geography of the Early Sasanian Period: The Case of Ādurbādagān”, Iran, Journal of the British Institute of Persian Studies, vol. 45, 2007, pp. 87-96.

Research paper thumbnail of “Ādurbādagān during the Late Sasanian Period: A Study in Administrative Geography”, Iran, Journal of the British Institute of Persian Studies, vol. 48, 2010, pp. 69-80.

From the early Sasanian period, Ērānšahr (the land of Iranians) was divided into a multitude of p... more From the early Sasanian period, Ērānšahr (the land of Iranians) was divided into a multitude of provinces governed by šahrabs. In the sixth century AD, the old divisions of the Empire underwent changes and a new organisation emerged. According to this reorganisation, the Empire was divided, on the pattern of the four cardinal points, into four quarters or sides and each one was subdivided into provinces. From this time, the province of Ādurbādagān along with provinces such as Gīlān and Albania formed one of the provinces of the northern quarter of the country. Since the North (abāxtar) was considered to be the region of demons in Zoroastrianism, the northern quarter was named Ādurbādagān, after its most important province. However, the wide application of other names to this quarter in Sasanian and Sasanian-based sources demonstrates that the use of the name of Ādurbādagān province to refer to abāxtar was prevalent for a short period and with the collapse of Sasanian quadripartite organisation, this nomenclature fell into oblivion. Following Sasanian traditions, post-Sasanian sources applied the name of Azerbaijan to the province situated between the Sipīd-rūd and Aras Rivers whose main centres were Ardabīl, Ganzag, and Shīz. Sealings found in Takht-i Sulaymān, belonging to Sasanian officials, attest the importance of the province for the Sasanians.

TABLE 1. Location of Adurbadagan province in larger divisions according to epigraphical and literary sources Sasanian period, is the title rihab. In these sources, rihab was applied to three provinces: Azerbaijan, Ar- ran and Armenia.°? The same division is mentioned by Ibn Hawagal,54 al-Istakhri5> and Hudid al-‘alam5® without reference to the title rihab. This division is not seen in Sasanian sources. Ibn Hawaal states that these three regions were of the same status apparently because in his time they were under the control of the one government. other provinces. The same classification and perspec- tive also exist in the sources dealing with the Aust of Adurbadagan. In the Bundahisn, for example, Arme- nia and Media are regarded as areas separate from Adurbadagan.57 Furthermore, in Moses of Khoren’s description of the kust of kapkith, eleven provinces are mentioned, one of which is Adurbadagan.58 The same viewpoint can be observed among the historians and geographers of the Islamic period. In this respect, we can refer to al-Dinawari,°? al-Ya‘qubt,® al-Mas‘tdi,®! Ibn Rusta,®? al-Istakhr1,63 Ibn Hawaqal,°4 al-Maqdist1,® al-Khwarazmi,% the Hudid al-‘alam®7 and the Muj- mal al-tawarikh.®8

Research paper thumbnail of “Disintegration of Sasanian Hegemony over Northern Iran (AD 623-643)”, Iranica Antiqua, vol. 46, 2011, pp. 315-329.

From the 6th century AD onward, the Sasanian Empire tried to build up its military strength and d... more From the 6th century AD onward, the Sasanian Empire tried to build up its military strength and defense system by dividing the country into four Kusts or quarters and erected fortifications and fortified walls in each Kust. One of these defensive walls was erected in the northern Kust in order to defend the borders of the empire against northern nomads. Perhaps the most important defensive walls of the empire in the northern quarter were in the passes of the northern Caucasus, especially at Darband. These fortifications were heavily damaged in the course of Sasanian-Byzantine wars (AD 603-628), which lead to the defeat of the Sasanian Empire. This was the advent of the disintegration of the Sasanian dynasty, which was later completed by Arab Muslim raids. The study of the archaeological, numismatic and literary evidence reveals that from this time (AD 623) onward, the Sasanians lost their control over the northern quarter and only practiced their weak domination over western and southern parts of the empire. The situation was like this until the downfall of the Sasanian dynasty through Arab Muslims and their penetration into Adurbadagan (AD 643).

Research paper thumbnail of “Remarks on the Location of the Province of Parthia in the Sasanian Period”, The Parthian and Early Sasanian Empires: Adaptation and Expansion, eds. Vesta Sarkhosh Curtis et al., Oxford & Philadelphia, Oxbow Books, 2016, pp. 42-46.

Encyclopaedia Entries by Mehrdad Ghodrat-Dizaji

Research paper thumbnail of “Ardavan (Sasanian)” (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, p. 357.

“Ardavan (Sasanian)” (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, p. 357.

Research paper thumbnail of “Artabanus (Achaemenid)”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, pp. 354-357.

“Artabanus (Achaemenid)”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, pp. 354-357.

Research paper thumbnail of “Artabanus I”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, p. 355.

“Artabanus I”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, p. 355.

Research paper thumbnail of “Artabanus II”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, pp. 355-356.

“Artabanus II”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, pp. 355-356.

Research paper thumbnail of “Artabanus III”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, p. 356.

“Artabanus III”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, p. 356.

Research paper thumbnail of “Artabanus IV”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, pp. 356-357.

“Artabanus IV”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, pp. 356-357.

Research paper thumbnail of “Artaxerxes III”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, p. 335.

“Artaxerxes III”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, p. 335.

Research paper thumbnail of “Arvand Gošnasp”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, p. 602.

“Arvand Gošnasp”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, p. 602.

Research paper thumbnail of “Aryāramna”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, pp. 612-613.

“Aryāramna”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, pp. 612-613.

Research paper thumbnail of “Orodes I”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, p. 310.

“Orodes I”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, p. 310.

Research paper thumbnail of “Orodes II”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, p. 310.

“Orodes II”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, p. 310.

Research paper thumbnail of “Orodes III” (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, p. 310.

“Orodes III” (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, p. 310.

Research paper thumbnail of “Damāvand”, (in Persian), Encyclopaedia of Persian Language and Litereture, vol. 3, Tehran, 2009, pp. 209-211.

“Damāvand”, (in Persian), Encyclopaedia of Persian Language and Litereture, vol. 3, Tehran, 2009, pp. 209-211.

Research paper thumbnail of “Samarqand” (in Persian), Encyclopaedia of Persian Language and Litereture, vol. 3, Tehran, 2009, pp. 737-738.

“Samarqand” (in Persian), Encyclopaedia of Persian Language and Litereture, vol. 3, Tehran, 2009, pp. 737-738.

Research paper thumbnail of “Tabaristān” (in Persian), Encyclopaedia of Persian Language and Litereture, vol. 4, Tehran, 2012, pp. 481-483.

“Tabaristān” (in Persian), Encyclopaedia of Persian Language and Litereture, vol. 4, Tehran, 2012, pp. 481-483.

Research paper thumbnail of “Māzandarān” (in Persian), Encyclopaedia of Persian Language and Litereture, vol. 5, Tehran, 2014, pp. 656-658.

“Māzandarān” (in Persian), Encyclopaedia of Persian Language and Litereture, vol. 5, Tehran, 2014, pp. 656-658.

Research paper thumbnail of “Administrative Geography of the Early Sasanian Period: The Case of Ādurbādagān”, Iran, Journal of the British Institute of Persian Studies, vol. 45, 2007, pp. 87-96.

Research paper thumbnail of “Ādurbādagān during the Late Sasanian Period: A Study in Administrative Geography”, Iran, Journal of the British Institute of Persian Studies, vol. 48, 2010, pp. 69-80.

From the early Sasanian period, Ērānšahr (the land of Iranians) was divided into a multitude of p... more From the early Sasanian period, Ērānšahr (the land of Iranians) was divided into a multitude of provinces governed by šahrabs. In the sixth century AD, the old divisions of the Empire underwent changes and a new organisation emerged. According to this reorganisation, the Empire was divided, on the pattern of the four cardinal points, into four quarters or sides and each one was subdivided into provinces. From this time, the province of Ādurbādagān along with provinces such as Gīlān and Albania formed one of the provinces of the northern quarter of the country. Since the North (abāxtar) was considered to be the region of demons in Zoroastrianism, the northern quarter was named Ādurbādagān, after its most important province. However, the wide application of other names to this quarter in Sasanian and Sasanian-based sources demonstrates that the use of the name of Ādurbādagān province to refer to abāxtar was prevalent for a short period and with the collapse of Sasanian quadripartite organisation, this nomenclature fell into oblivion. Following Sasanian traditions, post-Sasanian sources applied the name of Azerbaijan to the province situated between the Sipīd-rūd and Aras Rivers whose main centres were Ardabīl, Ganzag, and Shīz. Sealings found in Takht-i Sulaymān, belonging to Sasanian officials, attest the importance of the province for the Sasanians.

TABLE 1. Location of Adurbadagan province in larger divisions according to epigraphical and literary sources Sasanian period, is the title rihab. In these sources, rihab was applied to three provinces: Azerbaijan, Ar- ran and Armenia.°? The same division is mentioned by Ibn Hawagal,54 al-Istakhri5> and Hudid al-‘alam5® without reference to the title rihab. This division is not seen in Sasanian sources. Ibn Hawaal states that these three regions were of the same status apparently because in his time they were under the control of the one government. other provinces. The same classification and perspec- tive also exist in the sources dealing with the Aust of Adurbadagan. In the Bundahisn, for example, Arme- nia and Media are regarded as areas separate from Adurbadagan.57 Furthermore, in Moses of Khoren’s description of the kust of kapkith, eleven provinces are mentioned, one of which is Adurbadagan.58 The same viewpoint can be observed among the historians and geographers of the Islamic period. In this respect, we can refer to al-Dinawari,°? al-Ya‘qubt,® al-Mas‘tdi,®! Ibn Rusta,®? al-Istakhr1,63 Ibn Hawaqal,°4 al-Maqdist1,® al-Khwarazmi,% the Hudid al-‘alam®7 and the Muj- mal al-tawarikh.®8

Research paper thumbnail of “Disintegration of Sasanian Hegemony over Northern Iran (AD 623-643)”, Iranica Antiqua, vol. 46, 2011, pp. 315-329.

From the 6th century AD onward, the Sasanian Empire tried to build up its military strength and d... more From the 6th century AD onward, the Sasanian Empire tried to build up its military strength and defense system by dividing the country into four Kusts or quarters and erected fortifications and fortified walls in each Kust. One of these defensive walls was erected in the northern Kust in order to defend the borders of the empire against northern nomads. Perhaps the most important defensive walls of the empire in the northern quarter were in the passes of the northern Caucasus, especially at Darband. These fortifications were heavily damaged in the course of Sasanian-Byzantine wars (AD 603-628), which lead to the defeat of the Sasanian Empire. This was the advent of the disintegration of the Sasanian dynasty, which was later completed by Arab Muslim raids. The study of the archaeological, numismatic and literary evidence reveals that from this time (AD 623) onward, the Sasanians lost their control over the northern quarter and only practiced their weak domination over western and southern parts of the empire. The situation was like this until the downfall of the Sasanian dynasty through Arab Muslims and their penetration into Adurbadagan (AD 643).

Research paper thumbnail of “Remarks on the Location of the Province of Parthia in the Sasanian Period”, The Parthian and Early Sasanian Empires: Adaptation and Expansion, eds. Vesta Sarkhosh Curtis et al., Oxford & Philadelphia, Oxbow Books, 2016, pp. 42-46.

Research paper thumbnail of “Ardavan (Sasanian)” (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, p. 357.

“Ardavan (Sasanian)” (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, p. 357.

Research paper thumbnail of “Artabanus (Achaemenid)”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, pp. 354-357.

“Artabanus (Achaemenid)”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, pp. 354-357.

Research paper thumbnail of “Artabanus I”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, p. 355.

“Artabanus I”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, p. 355.

Research paper thumbnail of “Artabanus II”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, pp. 355-356.

“Artabanus II”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, pp. 355-356.

Research paper thumbnail of “Artabanus III”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, p. 356.

“Artabanus III”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, p. 356.

Research paper thumbnail of “Artabanus IV”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, pp. 356-357.

“Artabanus IV”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, pp. 356-357.

Research paper thumbnail of “Artaxerxes III”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, p. 335.

“Artaxerxes III”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, p. 335.

Research paper thumbnail of “Arvand Gošnasp”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, p. 602.

“Arvand Gošnasp”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, p. 602.

Research paper thumbnail of “Aryāramna”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, pp. 612-613.

“Aryāramna”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, pp. 612-613.

Research paper thumbnail of “Orodes I”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, p. 310.

“Orodes I”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, p. 310.

Research paper thumbnail of “Orodes II”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, p. 310.

“Orodes II”, (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, p. 310.

Research paper thumbnail of “Orodes III” (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, p. 310.

“Orodes III” (in Persian), The Encyclopaedia of Iran, vol. 2, Tehran, 2007, p. 310.

Research paper thumbnail of “Damāvand”, (in Persian), Encyclopaedia of Persian Language and Litereture, vol. 3, Tehran, 2009, pp. 209-211.

“Damāvand”, (in Persian), Encyclopaedia of Persian Language and Litereture, vol. 3, Tehran, 2009, pp. 209-211.

Research paper thumbnail of “Samarqand” (in Persian), Encyclopaedia of Persian Language and Litereture, vol. 3, Tehran, 2009, pp. 737-738.

“Samarqand” (in Persian), Encyclopaedia of Persian Language and Litereture, vol. 3, Tehran, 2009, pp. 737-738.

Research paper thumbnail of “Tabaristān” (in Persian), Encyclopaedia of Persian Language and Litereture, vol. 4, Tehran, 2012, pp. 481-483.

“Tabaristān” (in Persian), Encyclopaedia of Persian Language and Litereture, vol. 4, Tehran, 2012, pp. 481-483.

Research paper thumbnail of “Māzandarān” (in Persian), Encyclopaedia of Persian Language and Litereture, vol. 5, Tehran, 2014, pp. 656-658.

“Māzandarān” (in Persian), Encyclopaedia of Persian Language and Litereture, vol. 5, Tehran, 2014, pp. 656-658.

Research paper thumbnail of “Māzandarān” (in Persian), in J. Khaleghi-Motlagh (ed.), Ferdowsī va Shāhnāmah-sorāee, Tehran, 2011, pp. 803-807.

“Māzandarān” (in Persian), in J. Khaleghi-Motlagh (ed.), Ferdowsī va Shāhnāmah-sorāee, Tehran, 2011, pp. 803-807.

Research paper thumbnail of “Azerbaijan in the Early Sasanian Period”, Sixth Biennial Conference of Iranian Studies, University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies, August 3-5, 2006.

“Azerbaijan in the Early Sasanian Period”, Sixth Biennial Conference of Iranian Studies, University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies, August 3-5, 2006.

Research paper thumbnail of “Azarbaijan at the Fall of Sasanian Rule”, Sixth European Conference of Iranian Studies, Austrian Academy of Science, Vienna, September 18-22, 2007.

“Azarbaijan at the Fall of Sasanian Rule”, Sixth European Conference of Iranian Studies, Austrian Academy of Science, Vienna, September 18-22, 2007.

Research paper thumbnail of “The Concept of North in Sasanian Administrative Geography”, XXV International Conference on Source Studies and Historiography of Asia and Africa, Saint Petersburg State University, Faculty of Asian and African Studies, April 22-24, 2009.

“The Concept of North in Sasanian Administrative Geography”, XXV International Conference on Source Studies and Historiography of Asia and Africa, Saint Petersburg State University, Faculty of Asian and African Studies, April 22-24, 2009.

Research paper thumbnail of “Sasanian Defensive System in Northern Iran”, Third World Congress for Middle Eastern Studies, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, July 19-24, 2010.

“Sasanian Defensive System in Northern Iran”, Third World Congress for Middle Eastern Studies, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, July 19-24, 2010.

Research paper thumbnail of “The Collapse of the Sasanian Rule in the Northern Quarter: The Archaeological and Numismatic Evidence”, 7th European Conference of Iranian Studies, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Institute of Oriental Philology, September 7-10, 2011.

“The Collapse of the Sasanian Rule in the Northern Quarter: The Archaeological and Numismatic Evidence”, 7th European Conference of Iranian Studies, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Institute of Oriental Philology, September 7-10, 2011.

Research paper thumbnail of “The Province of Parthia in the Early Sasanian Period”, Conference on the Parthian and Early Sasanian Empires: Adaptation and Expansion, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, June 14-15, 2012.

“The Province of Parthia in the Early Sasanian Period”, Conference on the Parthian and Early Sasanian Empires: Adaptation and Expansion, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, June 14-15, 2012.

Research paper thumbnail of “The Parthian Written Heritage in Sasanian Period”, 32th German Oriental Studies Conference, University of Munster, September 23-27, 2013.

“The Parthian Written Heritage in Sasanian Period”, 32th German Oriental Studies Conference, University of Munster, September 23-27, 2013.

Research paper thumbnail of “The Collapse of Sasanian Provincial Rule, AD 622-632”, 2nd Colloquia Baltica Iranica Conference, University of Gdansk, December 4-8, 2015.

“The Collapse of Sasanian Provincial Rule, AD 622-632”, 2nd Colloquia Baltica Iranica Conference, University of Gdansk, December 4-8, 2015.