Hamidreza Peighambari; Leila Makvandi
Abstract
The Early history of the Persian Gulf is focused on the substantial political and economic role of Mesopotamia and its relations with Dilmun (Bahrain), Magan (Oman) and Meluhha (Indus valley). Therefore, the role of Elamites and the other people from Northern coasts of the Persian Gulf has remained obscure ...
Read More
The Early history of the Persian Gulf is focused on the substantial political and economic role of Mesopotamia and its relations with Dilmun (Bahrain), Magan (Oman) and Meluhha (Indus valley). Therefore, the role of Elamites and the other people from Northern coasts of the Persian Gulf has remained obscure and unclear. One of the unanswered questions is about the maritime activities of these people. The present article is an attempt to answer this question, and in order to determine the role of the “Elamite Confederation” in Persian Gulf trade, it emphasizes on the necessity of revising the common understanding through the use of historical analysis and archaeological data. This research indicates that Mesopotamian sources reflect only a part of the history of “Lower Sea” (Persian Gulf), which mainly refers to their commerce with the southern coasts. But the scattered information about the eastern places in the same sources and the archaeological data based on the analysis of minerals and objects made of semi-precious stones such as lapis lazuli and Chlorite, indicate the importance of those lands. The waterway for exchange of these resources and commodities, which passed through Susa and the coasts of Fars (Anshan), especially Liyan (Bushehr), like the land routes, were influenced by the political rivalries and enmity of Elamites and Mesopotamians, but was very prosperous in periods. Those periods are historically consistent with the Sukkalmah and Shutrukid dynasties, in which Elamite relationship extended to Bahrain and Oman as well. Thus, in spite of strong political and economic relations between Mesopotamia and southern coasts of “Lower Sea”, power dynamics in the region frequently changed in favor of Elamites and with this knowledge, we can now say that the gainful Sea trade has not been in the hands of Mesopotamia, as Mesopotamian sources inculcate
Hamidreza Peighambari
Abstract
The historical studies of the turbulent and obscure period of the Macedonian rule in Iran are mainly focused on regions such as Persis and Parthia. The role of other areas including Media has remained neglected in these studies, while the land of Media had always been one of the significant parts of ...
Read More
The historical studies of the turbulent and obscure period of the Macedonian rule in Iran are mainly focused on regions such as Persis and Parthia. The role of other areas including Media has remained neglected in these studies, while the land of Media had always been one of the significant parts of the ancient Iranian kingdoms. This paper attempts to answer the question of what role the Greater Media played in the course of events in the aforementioned period. The study of historical sources, archaeological evidence, and analysis of the high economic and geographical potentials of Media reveal the continuation of the administrative significance of this land during the reign of Alexander and his successors in Iran. Although the Lesser Media (Azerbaijan) soon became an independent state, the Greater Media remained an important region for the Macedonians, and Ecbatana became the capital of the upper Satraps. Nevertheless, major events such as the uprising for independence led by the Baruaxes the Medes and major rebellions by Macedonian Satraps occurred in Ecbatana during this period. This city ultimately performed an important role in collaboration with the Parthians to terminate the Seleucid domination in Iran. Therefore, the common perception of the progression of independence in Iran during this period should be reconsidered.
