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2- Department of Architecture, School of Architecture, College of Fine Arts, University of Tehran, Iran
2- Department of Architecture, School of Architecture, College of Fine Arts, University of Tehran, Iran
Abstract: (11 Views)
Najafabad, located 25 kilometers west of Isfahan, is a notable example of a deliberately planned city from the Safavid era, whose physical foundations were established through specific and purposeful measures that went beyond mere residential necessity. This premeditated order enabled the city, from the moment of its establishment, not only to function as a place of settlement but also to emerge as a commercial center and one of the active economic hubs of the region.
The present study, adopting a historical–analytical approach, examines the evolution of the economic and commercial life of Najafabad from its foundation in the Safavid period to its flourishing during the Qajar era. It seeks to clarify the transformation of livelihoods and the formation of the city’s economic structure within its historical context.
The findings indicate that the spatial organization and structural order of the city created conditions that fostered occupational diversity and the coexistence of various forms of livelihood. Furthermore, the study shows that Najafabad’s economy developed in continuous interaction with the city of Isfahan—an interaction that, on the one hand, reflected its economic linkage and dependence on the central city, and on the other hand demonstrated Najafabad’s influential role in the regional network of exchange and economic circulation. Overall, these processes contributed to the formation of a distinct economic identity for Najafabad, which gradually became consolidated and strengthened over time.
The present study, adopting a historical–analytical approach, examines the evolution of the economic and commercial life of Najafabad from its foundation in the Safavid period to its flourishing during the Qajar era. It seeks to clarify the transformation of livelihoods and the formation of the city’s economic structure within its historical context.
The findings indicate that the spatial organization and structural order of the city created conditions that fostered occupational diversity and the coexistence of various forms of livelihood. Furthermore, the study shows that Najafabad’s economy developed in continuous interaction with the city of Isfahan—an interaction that, on the one hand, reflected its economic linkage and dependence on the central city, and on the other hand demonstrated Najafabad’s influential role in the regional network of exchange and economic circulation. Overall, these processes contributed to the formation of a distinct economic identity for Najafabad, which gradually became consolidated and strengthened over time.
Article number: 6
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