Herat
is a city in western Afghanistan, in the valley
of the Hari Rud river in the province also known
as Herat, and was traditionally known for wine.
The residents are mainly Tajiks (Persian) and
Pashtuns.
This
is in an ancient city with many historic
buildings, although these have suffered damage in
various military conflicts during the last few decades.
The buildings are generally constructed of mud brick.
The city is dominated by the remains of a citadel,
constructed under the rule of Alexander of Macedon.
The
city had a constructive position on the trade routes
between Persia, India, China and Europe. The roads
from Herat to Turkmenistan and Iran are still strategically
important. Herat is probably a descendant of the ancient
Persian town of Artacoana, established before 500
BC. It may also have been known as Aria.
On
July 2001, It was captured by Alexander in 330 BC
during his war against the Persian Achaemenid Empire.
The town was rebuilt and the citadel was constructed.
It was part of the Seleucid Empire but was captured
by others on various occasions and became part of
the Parthian Empire in 167 BC.
It
became a seat of Christianity, with a Nestorian bishop
Around 300. It
became part of the Hephthalite Empire Around 484.
It was part of the Abbasid caliphate Around 786-809.
In a while, it was ruled by the Tahirid dynasty.
The Saffarid dynasty took control After 867-869.
It was ruled by the Ghaznavids Before 1040,. In
1040 it was captured by the Seljuk Empire. In 1175
it was captured by the Ghorids and then came under
the Khawarazm Empire. In this period Herat became
an important center for the production of metal
goods, especially in bronze, often decorated with
elaborate inlays in precious metals. In 1221 it
was captured by the Mongols and later destroyed
by Genghis Khan. In 1245 it was given to the Kart
Maliks.
It
was destroyed again by Timur Around 1381. Under
his son Shah Rukh it was rebuilt and became an important
center under the Timurid Empire. In the late 1400s
the Musallah complex (with many minarets) was built
under the rule of Queen Gawharshad. Her tomb complex
is considered one of the great monuments of Timurid
architectural
carving.
Herat
was used by the Soviets during the communist Democratic
Republic of Afghanistan. Even before the Soviet invasion
at the end of 1979, there was a substantial presence
of Soviet advisors in the city with their families.
From 10 to 20 March 1979 the army in Herat under the
control of Ismail Khan mutinied and 350 Soviet citizens
were killed. The Soviets bombed the city, causing
massive destruction and thousands of deaths and it
was recaptured with tanks and paratroopers.
After
the departure of the Soviets, Ismail Khan became
a Mujahedin commander and he became governor of
Herat. In 1995 the city was captured by the Taliban.
On 12 November 2001 it was captured by the Afghan
Northern Alliance and Ismail Khan returned to power
in the region. In 2004 it was the site of the ambush
and killing of Mirwais Sadeq, the Aviation Minister
for the country. More than 200 people were immediately
arrested, on suspicion of involvement.
