Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
University of Mazandaran
Abstract
The province of Mazandaran has played a pivotal role in northern Iran's political, economic, and cultural development due to its unique geography and strategic location. The imposing Alborz mountain range historically created natural barriers that fostered semi-autonomous governance and limited connections with the Iranian plateau before the Safavid era. A transportation revolution occurred under Shah Abbas I (1571-1629), who constructed the innovative "Shah Abbas Roads" network through mountainous terrain and plains. This infrastructure legacy continued in the Qajar period when Nasser al-Din Shah (1848-1896) expanded the "Nasser al-Din Shah Roads" system to facilitate grain shipments to Tehran and cross-border trade with Russia.
Despite their historical significance, Mazandaran's ancient road networks remain understudied. Key questions persist about how geography and climate shaped these routes, their multiple functions, and their relationship to modern transportation corridors. This groundbreaking research combines archival investigation with field surveys to shed light on these historical arteries and their role in regional development. The study documents twenty carefully engineered cobbled roads, including several newly discovered routes across diverse landscapes from coastal plains to high mountain passes. These pathways served as vital commercial and military links during the Safavid and Qajar periods, connecting settlements within Mazandaran while also integrating the province with neighboring regions. The findings provide valuable insights into Iran's historical transportation infrastructure and its enduring influence on contemporary road networks.
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