Isfahan

The name Ispahan is derived from Middle Persian Spahān, which is attested by various Middle Persian seals and inscriptions, including that of the Zoroastrian magus Kartir. The region is denoted by the abbreviation GD (Southern Media) on Sasanian coins. In Ptolemy's Geographia, it appears as Aspadana (Ἀσπαδανα) or Aspazana (Ασπαζάνα), which translates to "place of gathering for the army". It is believed that Spahān is derived from spādānām 'the armies', the Old Persian plural of spāda, from which is derived spāh (𐭮𐭯𐭠𐭧) 'army' and spahi (سپاهی, 'soldier', literally 'of the army') in Middle Persian. Some of the other ancient names include Gey, Jey (old form Zi), Park, and Judea.

Human habitation in the Isfahan region can be traced back to the Palaeolithic period. Archaeologists have found artifacts dating back to the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, Bronze, and Iron ages. During Median rule, Isfahan became a regional centre, especially due to the benefits of the Zayandehrud River. It was a religiously and ethnically diverse city during the reign of Cyrus the Great, and exhibited religious tolerance. The Muslim Arabs captured Isfahan in 642 CE. They made it the capital of al-Jibal province. The city further grew under the Buyid and Seljuk dynasties. After the fall of the Seljuks in 1200 CE, the city temporarily declined. It regained its importance during the Safavid era (1501–1736), with the city experiencing a golden age under the rule of Abbas the Great, who moved his capital from Qazvin to Isfahan. …

The city is located on the plain of the Zayandeh River and the foothills of the Zagros Mountains. The nearest mountain is Mount Soffeh, just south of the city. An artificial network of canals, whose components are called madi, were built during the Safavid dynasty for channeling water from the Zayandeh River into different parts of the city. Designed by Sheikh Bahaï, an engineer of Shah Abbas, the network has 77 madis in the northern course of the river, and 71 in the southern course. As of 1993, 91% of the centuries-old network's water was being used for agriculture purposes, 4% for industrial purposes, and 5% for domestic purposes. 70 emergency wells were dug in 2018 to avoid water shortages. Towns and villages around Isfahan have emptied out due to drought and water diversion. An anonymous journalist said that what is called drought is more often the mismanagement of water. …

Churches are mostly located in the New Julfa region. The oldest church in the city is the St. Jakob Church (1607). Other historically important churches include the St. Georg Church (17th century), St. Mary Church (1613), Bedkhem Church (1627), and Vank Cathedral (1664). Pacifique de Provins established a French mission in the city in 1627. Benjamin of Tudela reported that Isfahan had 15,000 Jews in 1170.

In 2014, industry, mines, and commerce in Isfahan province accounted for 35% to 50% (almost $229 billion) of the Iranian Gross Domestic Product. In 2019, Isfahan province's governorate said that tourism was the number one priority. According to Isfahan province's administrator for Department of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare, Iran had the cheapest labor workforce anywhere in the world. The labor force grew from 1990 to 2020; however, in 2018 the unemployment rate was 15%. The Esfahan Province Electricity Distribution Company, established in 1992, maintains a privatized power grid in the city. As of September 2020, the handicrafts industry of Isfahan Province was contributing $500 million annually to the economy. Isfahan Fair, a 22-hectare (54-acre) exhibition center aimed at increasing tourism, was opened on 4 November 2020. …

In 2018–2019, 450,000 foreign nationals visited the city. Some 110 trillion rials (around US$440 million in 2020) were invested in the province's tourism sector. Nazhvan Park hosts a reptile zoo with 40 aquariums. There are two water parks: the Saadi water park and the Nazhvan water park. There are party gardens and wedding halls. The Isfahan Healthcare city complex, built on a 300 hectares (740 acres) site near the Aqa Babaei Expressway, is intended to boost the city's medical tourism revenues. The city is served by Refah Chain Stores Co., Iran Hyper Star, Isfahan City Center, Shahrvand Chain Stores Inc., and Kowsar Market. There are nine cinemas. Historically, cinemas old Isfahan were entertainment for the working class. Religious people considered the cinema to be a mostly impure place and going to the cinema to was haram under Islam. …