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The Province of Khuzestan is one of the centers of ancient civilizations, dating back to 6,000 years in Shoosh (Susa). In the 4th millennium B.C. the powerful Elamit government was founded in Susa, and was overthrown in the 1st millennium B.C. by the Assyrians. In the year 640 B.C., Shoosh came under the rule of the Assyrians and was divided into two parts. The northern segment named "Anzan" came under the rule of Parsees who had been the former settlers of this region, and the southern part was dominated by the Assyrians. In the year 640 B.C., Shoosh came under the rule of the Assyrians and was divided into two parts. The northern segment named "Anzan" came under the rule of Parsees who had been the former settlers of this region, and the southern part was dominated by the Assyrians. In the year 538 B.C. Koorush (Cyrus) the Achaemenian, sent his forces to Babylon and conquered the Elamit lands. The city of Susa was then proclaimed as one of the Achaemenian capitals. Moreover, in the year 521 B.C., Shoosh came under the interest of Darius (Dariush), who erected a grand palace known as 'Hadish' here. But the astonishing period of utmost glory and splendor of Achaemenian dynasty came to an end by the conquests of Alexander the Macedonian. After Alexander the Selookis or the Seleucidian Dynasty came into power. In the year 187 B.C., due to weakness of Seleucidian Dynasty, Pars and Khuzestan united and slipped out of their control. Mehrdad I, the Parthian (171-137 B.C.) gained victory over the Selooki ruler in a war and appointed someone from the Parthian Dynasty as a ruler of Khuzestan. During the Sassanid Dynasty this area thrived tremendously and flourished, and this dynasty was responsible for the many constructions that were erected in Ahvaz, Shooshtar and the north of Andimeshk. After the Muslim Arabs conquered Iran, the Omavi and Abbassid Caliphates held the ropes in Khuzestan and ruled till the mid 3rd thousandth A.H. On the decline of the latter, Yaqub (Jacob) Lais, from the vicinity of Sistan, raised the flag of independence and ultimately gained control on Shoosh and Shooshtar. In the year 326 A.H., Moaz-ul-Dowleh Daylami ruled Kerman and Khuzestan. From the years 443 - 845 A.H., the Kharazmshahian, the Shalmeh Afshar Dynasty, the Attabaks of Fars, the Mozaffar Dynasty, the Jalayer Dynasty and the Teimoorians respectively ruled Khuzestan either completely or partially. In the year 845 A.H., the religious movement of "Mosha'sha'ian" were formed in this region. The Safavid rulers sent their troops to attack the Mosha'sha'ian and Afshars several times. In the year 1142 A.H. Nader Shah Afshar entered Khuzestan. On the death of Karim Khan Zand, the area was witness to violations, and during the reign of Fathali Shah Qajar, Khuzestan was finally divided into two. After the Iran -Britain war in 1273 A.H., peace prevailed in Khuzestan for a period of 40 years. At this time the Arab tribes or clans had been divided into different groups, each being ruled by a Sheikh (or chief). In the past eighty years, except during Iran-Iraq war, the Province of Khuzestan thrived and prospered, and today accounts for one of the regions in Iran that holds a strategic position. |
