Old Kandahar
Old Kandahar (locally known as Zoar Shahr, meaning "Old City") is a historical section of the city of Kandahar in southern Afghanistan. Its foundation was laid out by Alexander the Great in 330 BC[1][2] and served as the local seat of power for many rulers in the last 2,000 years. It became part of many empires, including the Mauryans (322 BC–185 BC), Indo-Scythians (200 BC–400 AD), Sassanid Empire, Arabs, Zunbils, Saffarids, Ghaznavids, Ghorids, Timurids, Mughals, Safavids, Hotaki and others. It was one of the main cities of Arachosia, a historical region sitting between Greater Iran and the Indus Valley Civilization. The city has been a frequent target for conquest because of its strategic location in Southern Asia, controlling the main trade route linking the Indian subcontinent with the Middle East, Central Asia and the Persian Gulf.[3]
The city was often fought over by the Persians and the Indians, until it was destroyed by Nader Shah and his Afsharid forces in 1738 after defeating Shah Hussain Hotak, the last Hotaki ruler. After the destruction of the old city all the remaining inhabitants were relocated to a nearby area which became known as "Naderabad" for a short time, named after Nader Shah of Mashad in Khorasan. By 1750, Ahmad Shah Durrani laid out the current city of Kandahar and turned it to the capital of his Durrani Empire.[4]
See also
References
- ^ Lendering, Jona. "Alexandria in Arachosia". LIVIUS – Articles on Ancient History. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
- ^ Dupree, Nancy Hatch (1971) "Sites in Perspective (Chapter 3)" An Historical Guide To Afghanistan Afghan Tourist Organization, Kabul.]
- ^ Mentioned in Bopearachchi, "Monnaies Greco-Bactriennes et Indo-Grecques", p52. Original text in paragraph 19 of Parthian stations
- ^ "AN OUTLINE OF THE HISTORY OF PERSIA DURING THE LAST TWO CENTURIES (A.D. 1722-1922)". Edward Granville Browne. London: Packard Humanities Institute. p. 31. Retrieved 2010-09-24.