Yazd

Yazd means "pure" and "holy"; Yazd City means "City of the Holy [One, i. e., God]".[8] Former names of this city: Kath, Isatis.

Archeological evidence 12 kilometers north of Yazd suggests that the area has been populated since the period of the Achaemenid Empire (550 BC–330 BC).[9] In his Natural History, Pliny the Elder (died 79 AD) mentions a town in the Parthian Empire (247 BC–224 AD) named "Issatis", which is seemingly connected to the name of the Asagarta/Istachae/Sagartians.[10] As a result, some scholars have suggested that the name of Yazd was derived from Issatis (also transliterated as Isatichae, Ysatis, Yasatis), and that the latter name started to be used in the Median or Achaemenid eras.[11]

The area encompassing Yazd first started to gain prominence in the Late antiquity, namely under the Sasanian Empire (224–651). Under Yazdegerd I (r. 399–420), a mint was established in Yazd (under the mint abbreviation of "YZ"), which demonstrates its increasing importance.[12] According to the New Persian chronicle Tarikh-i Yazd ("History of Yazd") of 1441, Yazd was re-founded by "Yazdegerd, son of Bahram", i.e. Yazdegerd II (r. 438–457).[13] The word yazd means God.[14] After the Muslim conquest of Persia, many Zoroastrians migrated to Yazd from neighboring provinces. By paying a levy, Yazd was allowed to remain Zoroastrian even after its conquest, and Islam only gradually became the dominant religion in the city.

Yazd Atash Behram.

Because of its remote desert location and the difficulty of access, Yazd remained largely immune to large battles and the destruction and ravages of war. For instance, it was a haven for those fleeing from destruction in other parts of Persian Empire during the Mongol invasion. In 1272 it was visited by Marco Polo, who remarked on the city's fine silk-weaving industry. In the book The Travels of Marco Polo, he described Yazd in the following way:

It is a good and noble city, and has a great amount of trade. They weave there quantities of a certain silk tissue known as Yasdi, which merchants carry into many quarters to dispose of. When you leave this city to travel further, you ride for seven days over great plains, finding harbour to receive you at three places only. There are many fine woods producing dates upon the way, such as one can easily ride through; and in them there is great sport to be had in hunting and hawking, there being partridges and quails and abundance of other game, so that the merchants who pass that way have plenty of diversion. There are also wild asses, handsome creatures. At the end of those seven marches over the plain, you come to a fine kingdom which is called Kerman.

Yazd briefly served as the capital of the Muzaffarid Dynasty in the fourteenth century, and was unsuccessfully besieged in 1350–1351 by the Injuids under Shaikh Abu Ishaq. The Friday (or Congregation) mosque, arguably the city's greatest architectural landmark, as well as other important buildings, date to this period. During the Qajar dynasty (18th century AD) it was ruled by the Bakhtiari Khans.

Under the rule of the Safavids (16th century), some people migrated from Yazd and settled in an area that is today on the Iran-Afghanistan border. The settlement, which was named Yazdi, was located in what is now Farah City in the province of the same name in Afghanistan. Even today, people from this area speak with an accent very similar to that of the people of Yazd.

One of the notable things about Yazd is its family-centered culture. According to official statistics from Iran's National Organization for Civil Registration, Yazd is among the three cities with the lowest divorce rates in Iran.

Yazd Tower of Silence

Yazd is an important centre of Iranian architecture. Because of its climate, it has one of the largest networks of qanats (underground water supply systems) in the world, and Yazdi qanat makers are considered the most skilled in Iran.

To deal with the extremely hot summers, many old buildings in Yazd have magnificent wind towers and large underground areas.

The city is also home to prime examples of yakhchals, which were used to store ice retrieved from glaciers in the nearby mountains. Yazd is also one of the largest cities built almost entirely out of adobe.

Yazd's heritage as a center of Zoroastrianism is also important. There is a Tower of Silence on the outskirts, and the city has an ateshkadeh which holds a fire that has been kept alight continuously since 470 AD. Zoroastrians make up a significant minority of the population, around 20,000–40,000 or 5 to 10 percent.

The 11th-century brick mausoleum and shrine Davāzdah Imām is the oldest dated building in the city.[23]

Built in 12th century and still in use, Jame Mosque of Yazd is an example of the finest Persian mosaics and excellent architecture. Its minarets are the highest in the country. Tomb of Sayyed Rukn ad-Din is nearby the mosque.

Always known for the quality of its silk and carpets, Yazd today is one of Iran's industrial centers for textiles. There is also a considerable ceramics and construction materials industry and unique confectionery and jewellery industries. A significant portion of the population is also employed in other industries including agriculture, dairy, metal works, and machine manufacturing. There are a number of companies involved in the growing information technology industry, mainly manufacturing primary materials such as cables and connectors. Currently Yazd is the home of the largest manufacturer of fibre optics in Iran.

Yazd's confectioneries have a tremendous following throughout Iran and have been a source of tourism for the city. Confectioners workshops (khalifehs, or experts) keep their recipes a guarded secret, and there are many that have remained a private family business for many generations. Baklava, ghotab and pashmak are the most popular sweets made in the city.

In 2000 the Yazd Water Museum opened;[25] it features exhibits of water storage vessels and historical technologies related to water.

Yazd has expanded its industrial fields since the 1980s. With at least three main industrial areas each containing over 70 different factories, Yazd has become one of the most technologically advanced cities of Iran.

In addition to its connection with major Iranian cities via Iranian Railways,[26] Yazd is served by the Shahid Sadooghi Airport.[27]

Khatami

• Mohammad Khatami, former president of Iran; born in Ardakan
• Mohammad Ali Jafari, the commander of the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution of Iran
• Mohammad Reza Aref, Vice President of Iran from 2001 to 2005
• Mirza Mohammad Farrokhi Yazdi, poet and politician
• Vahshi Bafghi, poet
• Habibollah Bitaraf, former Minister of Energy
• Moshe Katsav, former President of Israel
• Mohammad-Ali Eslami Nodooshan, Iranian author
• Mehdi Azar Yazdi, author of children's stories
• Reza Amrollahi, Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran 1981–1997
• Iraj Afshar, bibliographer, historian, and an iconic figure in the field of Persian studies
• Ahmad Fardid, prominent Iranian philosopher and an inspiring and dedicated professor
• Sharaf ad-Din Ali Yazdi, 15th-century Persian historian.
• Zia'eddin Tabatabaee, Iranian politician and the Prime Minister of Iran
• Reza Ardakanian, Iranian professor, politician and the former Minister of Energy of Iran
• Sems Kesmai, poet
• Ardeshir Jamshid Khosraviani, prominent Iranian neurosurgeon and an inspiring and dedicated doctor

University of Yazd

The University of Yazd was established in 1988. It has a college of architecture specializing in traditional Persian art and architecture.[30] Yazd and its nearby towns contain the following institutes of higher education:

Yazd is twinned with:

• 
  Yazd Entrance
• 
  Amir Chakhmaq Complex
• 
  Jameh Mosque
• 
  Fire Temple
• 
  Dowlatabad Garden pavilion
• 
  A Zurkhaneh in Yazd
• 
  Lari House in Yazd
• 
  Dad Hotel, Yazd, Iran

• Iran
• Yazd Province

• Media related to Yazd at Wikimedia Commons
• Yazd travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Rare Photos of Arak, Yazd, Kashan Iranian.com
• Phototour of the desert city (Yazd)