Tehran is geographically remote. Why did Iran choose it as the capital?
It stands to reason that although the capital doesn't have to be in the center of the country, it will choose a fertile land or a strategic center, and this remote Tehran is really a bit temperamental.
Long history, 32 moves to the capital
Like China's long history, Iran has also experienced a long time change. From BC to AD, from modern times to modern times, the territory of Iran has changed many times in the historical trajectory of disturbance, with one dynasty rising and subverting, and one city being born and annihilated. It was in this regime change that Iran moved its capital 32 times.
as early as around 32 BC, human civilization appeared in this rugged land. A country called Elam was built near the Tigris River. Its capital is also near the water source-Susa. This place is close to the river, and the terrain is relatively flat, so it is a suitable capital.
during years of struggle with neighboring countries, it was overthrown by Assyria, a city-state. But before it was completely destroyed, around 678 BC, a country called Mede rose. Midi, with its capital in Ek Platthana, didn't exist for long. Compared with Elam, which has gone through thousands of years, it only existed for more than a hundred years.
and it was the Persian tribe that overthrew it. In 55 BC, the Persian Empire was established, with Persepolis in the southwest as its capital. History is moving forward steadily, and the Persian Empire is also developing gradually, until the Persian battlefield broke out and the Persian Empire went downhill. Around 33 BC, Persia was annihilated by the army of the Kingdom of Macedonia, and the Hellenistic era came. The capital of Macedonia, like its sphere of influence, has undergone several changes, first Virgina, then Pera, and finally Babylon.
in 247 BC, the rest dynasty was founded. Its capital is a city called Taixifeng near the Tigris River. By 224 AD, the Sabbath Dynasty was destroyed and the Sassanian Dynasty was established, with Taixifeng as its capital. In this way, more than 4 years passed, the Arab Empire invaded and the Sassanian Dynasty disappeared in the long river of history. Medina, Damascus and Baghdad have all become the capitals of the Arab Empire.
in 874, the Saman family established the Saman dynasty, with its capital in Bukhara and Balkh. In 999 AD, the Saman dynasty with a huge territory was overthrown by the Gasseni dynasty, a small country in China. The land of Iran ushered in the Turkic dynasty. More than 2 years later, Genghis Khan sent troops here, and his second son established the State of ilhan here. Misha, Soltanieh and Tabrizi have both served as capitals.
in 138, ilhan was captured by the Turks, and the Timur dynasty with Samarkand as its capital was founded. Less than a hundred years later, it gradually declined, and the new forces, the Black Sheep Dynasty and the White Sheep Dynasty, appeared successively. The capital of the former is Herat, and the capital of the latter is Tabrizi and Diya bulke successively.
in 151, the Aries dynasty was in turmoil, and the Safi dynasty was established. This dynasty also had several capitals, namely Tabrizi, Ghazwin and Isfahan. More than 2 years later, the Turkic tribes in the northeast of Iran invaded, and the Afshar dynasty was established. The Afshar dynasty, with Mashhad as its capital, expanded outward and expanded its sphere of influence. At the same time, however, there were constant royal struggles within the dynasty and there was no peace.
in 1779 ad, the kaijia dynasty took the opportunity to establish, with Tehran as its capital. Since then, the Pahlavi dynasty and today's Islamic Republic of Iran have always taken Tehran as their capital.
so why is Tehran the capital? And why has the dynasty changed for so many years, but the capital has not changed?
success
Tehran was always a "remote mountain village" before it became the capital, with a population of just over 2,, and its economy was not very prosperous. So why did the Kaijia dynasty make its capital here? It was actually the first emperor of Kaijia Dynasty who set up camp in this place that took a fancy to its geographical location.
It is very close to the northern region of Iran, the core sphere of influence of Kaijia Dynasty, and it can radiate to other regions of Iran, so we can attack and retreat before. For the emperor who just came to the top, this place is blessed.
The decision to make the capital here was originally a political consideration, but after the decision, the ruling class and the newcomers here gradually found that the climate here is much better than other parts of Iran. Although it is also hot and dry, it is simply not too good compared with the drier and hotter surrounding areas. This is one of the reasons why the later regime did not move the capital.
New concerns
Although Tehran has certain advantages in climate, there is no shortage of extreme weather such as high fever and blizzard. Not only that, Tehran, a remote place, happens to be located in the earthquake zone, and there is a danger of an earthquake at any time.
More importantly, although Tehran, as the capital, is developing in all aspects and gradually becoming a modern city, there are various urban problems. A large number of migrants have flooded into a small area, and a series of problems such as traffic congestion, crowded housing, environmental deterioration, air pollution and so on have followed. Tehran, a small place, is in urgent need of renovation. The voice of moving the capital is also gradually increasing.
but although the government intends to move the capital, it doesn't have enough funds. Moreover, Tehran today is no longer a small village that can be "abandoned" casually. This is the political center of Iran, where many large enterprises and cultural institutions are located. And the people still have deep cultural feelings for it. It is almost impossible to move immediately. Therefore, we have to "stay here temporarily" first, and then slowly figure it out.
behind this plan to move the capital is also full of helplessness.