Ritual Cities

Central Asia cities' emergence, formation, and expansion have occurred along the lines of history with four basic objects: #Belief, #Function#Climate#Suburb. Belief index, based on ritual culture, function, based on market development, climate for the harmony of urban life with geographical features, and also the close connection between the city and the villages in the surrounding area had a place as a favorable area of influence in the creation of cities.

According to the deep-rooted religious beliefs, prosperity and destruction, rooted in divine goodness and demonic evil, are not only not in conflict with each other, but as two moving symbols in the direction of the world's creation, motivation, and organization. Accordingly, the Central Asia city is the junction of these two symbols. When the city is the center of the rulership, military force and the place of gathering, maintaining, and growing wealth and production force, it is the place of the values of this world, and when it is the center of cultural symbols, divine thoughts, and spiritual values, it has the place of the values of that world. The city was always in line with the history of the Central Asia civilization, the residence of clerics, military, officers, and high social classes who created the spiritual and material assets of the urban society.

(Persian source)

Foundations of Genesis

The emergence of surplus production in the first step in agriculture and then in the workshop industry was one of the foundations of the emergence of cities. The trade of this surplus leads to the emergence of class society in cities. According to Gordon Child, the emergence of cities or the urban revolution is the result of two great revolutions, one in the economic structure and the other in the social structure. In addition, providing means of transportation and transferring surplus products to the city leads to the prosperity of urban functions and the emergence of a special physical tissue for trade called the market (Bazar). (Persian source) ?

Central Asia had fertile lands and areas where cities were built. (Persian source) The physical continuity of the city with the geographical and climatic area is one of the first foundations of urban planning in Central Asia, and for this foundation, cities expand organically and no preconceived ideas are seen in the creation of their structures. The close relationship of climatic features with the physical-structural expansion of cities has been such that urban environmental indicators such as water and agricultural land are considered essential components in the creation and expansion of cities. Apart from the appearance of house-building structures and winding passages, these features were also the defense position of the city against the invasion of foreigners. (Persian source)

Expansion platforms

Central Asia cities expanded in a tight bond with the support of the surrounding regions. The degree of development of the cities depended on the ability of agricultural production and animal husbandry in the surrounding villages. Based on their special position in the commercial work on rural products and small handicraft industry, the markets of the cities were considered to reflect the arts, traditions and provide the stability of local culture and cultural solidarity between the city and the village. The physical structure of cities from ancient times to before today's transformations:

- Fortress (Kohandej / Dej), the central core of the city, with a wall, for the palace of the commanders and their relatives

- Town (Sharistan), residences of office workers, clerics, rich people, merchants, professionals, and other classes

- Bazar, neighborhoods, and passages in Sharistan and around Sharistan, the city wall ?

- Suburb (Rabaz), outside the wall, the area around the city, the location of villages, farmers, fields, and gardens.

(Persian source)

Symbolic signs

Within the physical structure, the most prominent urban components:

- Wall, tower, rampart, and gate to defend against the attack of foreigners

- Covered Bazar, side passages of the Bazar, trading place, and social functions

- Mosque, religious school, religious buildings, and other rituals places, mostly in and around the Bazar

- Maidan (Plaza), the political-administrative zone as well as the zone of social gatherings

- Neighborhoods (Mahala / Koy), which were created based on people's work and customs, once had walls and gates.

- Passages and alleys (Gozar), the organizer of the urban structure, connecting different places of the city

(Persian source)

The spatial organization of the ancient cities was based on the continuity and unity between the above components, and the link between the center of the city, the centers of the neighborhoods, and their crossings, showing the main crossings and the large square of the city. (Persian source)

In the present era, with the construction of wide streets for easy commuting and the appearance of skyscrapers and buildings with service, administrative, commercial, etc. functions, the appearance of cities has undergone many changes. Neighborhoods have gradually moved away from the city center, and what is left around the central areas of the city are old neighborhoods that need renovation and reconstruction.

Sources in Persian:

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2- ?????? ?????. 1369. ???? ? ??? ??? ????? ???? ? ?????? ?????? ?? ?????. ??? ???. ???? ??????? ? ??????? ??????? ? ??????? ????? ???? ? ???????? ?????

3-?????? ????? ????. 1365. ????? ?? ?? ????? ??? ? ???????? ?? ?????. ??? ???? ?????

4-????????? ?????????. 1357. ???? ?? ????? ???? ???? "?? ???? ?? ?????". ????? ???? ? ???????? ?????

5-????????? ?????????. 1366. "??????? ?????? ?????"? ?????? ?????. ?? ???? ???????? ?????. ????? ????? ? ????? ??????? ?????

6-??????? ????????. 1365. "?????? ??????". ???? ?????? ?? ???????? ? ??????? ?? ?????. ????? ????? ? ????? ??????? ?????

7-?????????? ????. 1368. ???? ???????? ?? ?????. ???? ??? ????????? ?????